The Whitlam Era (1972-75) – Full List Of Living Ex-MPs

The following table shows all the living former members of the House of Representatives between 1972 and 1975.

The election of the Whitlam Labor government on December 2, 1972 was a turning point in modern Australian political history. It ended 23 years of Liberal-Country Party rule, including 16 years with Sir Robert Menzies as prime minister. The 1972 election ushered in three years of political drama that saw considerable political and social reform and culminated in Gough Whitlam’s dismissal on November 11, 1975.

The two tables below show details of the thirty-seven former MPs from 1972-75 who are still living. Only 27 (21%) of 126 members elected to the 28th Parliament on are still alive. Of the 128 members elected to the 29th Parliament, there are 37 (29%) still living.

The oldest former member is the Liberal Party’s Tony Street, who is 97. The ALP’s oldest former member is Dr Moss Cass, 96. The oldest surviving National is Peter Nixon, 95. The youngest surviving member of this period is the ALP’s John Dawkins, who is 76. As of August 2019, there are 7 former members are in their 90s, 24 in their 80s and 6 in their 70s.

The most recent deaths have been:
– August 10, 2019: Dr Jim Forbes, Liberal (Barker-SA), 95
– December 09, 2018: Gordon Scholes, ALP (Corio-Vic), 87
– June 02, 2018: Joe Berinson, ALP (Perth-WA), 86
– December 18, 2017: Barry Cohen, ALP (Robertson-NSW), 82
– November 28, 2017: Clarrie Millar, Country (Wide Bay-Qld), 92
– August 31, 2017: John Bourchier, Liberal (Bendigo-Vic), 87
– August 24, 2017: Doug Everingham, AL, (Capricornia-Qld), 94
– March 23, 2017: Ian Robinson, Country (Cowper/Page-NSW), 91

The first table provides statistics on the former members. The second table lists each member by name. Members elected in 1972 are shown first. New members elected in 1974 are shaded. All data is correct as of December 09, 2018. Ages are updated automatically.

• House of Representatives – 28th Parliament 1972-74 – Full List of Members
• House of Representatives – 29th Parliament 1974-75 – Full List of Members
• Senators 1971-74
• Senators 1974-75