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 [showcurrentage month=”2″ day=”8″ year=”1926″ template=”1″]. The ALP’s oldest former member is Dr Moss Cass, [showcurrentage month=”2″ day=”18″ year=”1927″ template=”1″]. The oldest surviving National is Peter Nixon, [showcurrentage month=”3″ day=”22″ year=”1928″ template=”1″]. The youngest surviving member of this period is the ALP’s John Dawkins, who is [showcurrentage month=”3″ day=”2″ year=”1947″ template=”1″]. 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.
Whitlam Era MPs 1972-1975 – Former Members Still Living |
Party |
1972 Election |
Living |
% Living |
1974 Election |
Living |
% Living |
Australian Labor Party (ALP) |
67 |
13 |
19% |
66 |
14 |
21% |
Coalition (Liberal-Country) |
59 |
14 |
24% |
62 |
23 |
37% |
TOTAL |
126 |
27 |
21% |
128 |
37 |
29% |
Liberal Party |
39 |
8 |
21% |
41 |
15 |
37% |
Country Party / National Country Party |
20 |
6 |
30% |
21 |
8 |
38% |
Whitlam Era MPs 1972-1975 – Former Members Still Living |
No. |
Name |
Party |
Seat |
Term Began |
Term Ended |
Date of Birth |
Age |
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY MEMBERS |
1. |
Moss Cass |
ALP |
Maribyrnong (Vic) |
25.10.1969 |
04.02.1983 |
18 February 1927 |
[showcurrentage month=”2″ day=”18″ year=”1927″ template=”1″] |
2. |
John Coates |
ALP |
Denison (Tas) |
02.12.1972 |
13.12.1975 |
23 March 1944 |
[showcurrentage month=”3″ day=”23″ year=”1944″ template=”1″] |
3. |
Manfred Cross |
ALP |
Brisbane (Qld) |
09.12.1961 |
13.12.1975 |
12 August 1929 |
[showcurrentage month=”8″ day=”12″ year=”1929″ template=”1″] |
4. |
Richard Gun |
ALP |
Kingston (SA) |
25.10.1969 |
13.12.1975 |
27 May 1936 |
[showcurrentage month=”5″ day=”27″ year=”1936″ template=”1″] |
5. |
Bill Hayden |
ALP |
Oxley (Qld) |
09.12.1961 |
08.10.1988 |
23 January 1933 |
[showcurrentage month=”1″ day=”23″ year=”1933″ template=”1″] |
6. |
Chris Hurford |
ALP |
Adelaide (SA) |
25.10.1969 |
31.12.1987 |
30 July 1931 |
[showcurrentage month=”7″ day=”30″ year=”1931″ template=”1″] |
7. |
Paul Keating |
ALP |
Blaxland (NSW) |
25.10.1969 |
23.04.1996 |
18 January 1944 |
[showcurrentage month=”1″ day=”18″ year=”1944″ template=”1″] |
8. |
John Kerin |
ALP |
Macarthur (NSW)
Werriwa (NSW) |
02.12.1972
23.09.1978 |
13.12.1975
22.12.1993 |
21 November 1937 |
[showcurrentage month=”11″ day=”21″ year=”1937″ template=”1″] |
9. |
Tony Lamb |
ALP |
La Trobe (Vic)
Streeton (Vic) |
02.12.1972
01.12.1984 |
13.12.1975
24.03.1990 |
07 March 1939 |
[showcurrentage month=”3″ day=”7″ year=”1939″ template=”1″] |
10. |
Race Mathews |
ALP |
Casey (Vic) |
02.12.1972 |
13.12.1975 |
27 March 1935 |
[showcurrentage month=”3″ day=”27″ year=”1935″ template=”1″] |
11. |
David McKenzie |
ALP |
Diamond Valley (Vic) |
02.12.1972 |
13.12.1975 |
30 May 1933 |
[showcurrentage month=”5″ day=”30″ year=”1933″ template=”1″] |
12. |
Peter Morris |
ALP |
Shortland (NSW) |
02.12.1972 |
31.08.1998 |
29 July 1932 |
[showcurrentage month=”7″ day=”29″ year=”1932″ template=”1″] |
13. |
Ralph Willis |
ALP |
Gellibrand (Vic) |
02.12.1972 |
31.08.1998 |
14 April 1938 |
[showcurrentage month=”4″ day=”14″ year=”1938″ template=”1″] |
14. |
John Dawkins |
ALP |
Tangney (WA)
Fremantle (WA) |
18.05.1974
10.12.1977 |
13.12.1975
04.02.1994 |
02 March 1947 |
[showcurrentage month=”3″ day=”2″ year=”1947″ template=”1″] |
LIBERAL PARTY MEMBERS |
1. |
Don Cameron |
Liberal |
Griffith (Qld)
Fadden (Qld)
Moreton (Qld) |
26.11.1966
10.12.1977
05.11.1983 |
10.12.1977
05.03.1983
24.03.1990 |
06 February 1940 |
[showcurrentage month=”2″ day=”6″ year=”1940″ template=”1″] |
2. |
Marshall Cooke |
Liberal |
Petrie (Qld) |
02.12.1972 |
11.04.1974 |
04 March 1938 |
[showcurrentage month=”3″ day=”4″ year=”1938″ template=”1″] |
3. |
Victor Garland |
Liberal |
Curtin (WA) |
19.04.1969 |
22.01.1981 |
05 May 1934 |
[showcurrentage month=”5″ day=”5″ year=”1934″ template=”1″] |
4. |
Andrew Peacock |
Liberal |
Kooyong (Vic) |
02.04.1966 |
19.11.1994 |
13 February 1939 |
[showcurrentage month=”2″ day=”13″ year=”1939″ template=”1″] |
5. |
Philip Ruddock |
Liberal |
Parramatta (NSW)
Dundas (NSW)
Berowra (NSW) |
22.09.1973
10.12.1977
13.03.1993 |
10.12.1977
13.03.1993
09.05.2016 |
12 March 1943 |
[showcurrentage month=”3″ day=”12″ year=”1943″ template=”1″] |
6. |
Tony Staley |
Liberal |
Chisholm (Vic) |
19.09.1970 |
19.09.1980 |
15 May 1939 |
[showcurrentage month=”5″ day=”15″ year=”1939″ template=”1″] |
7. |
Tony Street |
Liberal |
Corangamite (Vic) |
26.11.1966 |
18.01.1984 |
08 February 1926 |
[showcurrentage month=”2″ day=”8″ year=”1926″ template=”1″] |
8. |
Ian Viner |
Liberal |
Stirling (WA) |
02.12.1972 |
05.03.1983 |
21 January 1933 |
[showcurrentage month=”1″ day=”21″ year=”1933″ template=”1″] |
9. |
Mel Bungey |
Liberal |
Canning (WA) |
18.05.1974 |
05.03.1983 |
30 August 1934 |
[showcurrentage month=”8″ day=”30″ year=”1934″ template=”1″] |
10. |
Alan Cadman |
Liberal |
Mitchell (NSW) |
18.05.1974 |
17.10.2007 |
26 July 1937 |
[showcurrentage month=”7″ day=”26″ year=”1937″ template=”1″] |
11. |
David Connolly |
Liberal |
Bradfield (NSW) |
18.05.1974 |
29.01.1996 |
20 July 1939 |
[showcurrentage month=”7″ day=”20″ year=”1939″ template=”1″] |
12. |
Robert Ellicott |
Liberal |
Wentworth (NSW) |
18.05.1974 |
17.02.1981 |
15 April 1927 |
[showcurrentage month=”4″ day=”15″ year=”1927″ template=”1″] |
13. |
John Hodges |
Liberal |
Petrie (Qld) |
18.05.1974
01.12.1984 |
05.03.1983
11.07.1987 |
03 October 1937 |
[showcurrentage month=”10″ day=”3″ year=”1937″ template=”1″] |
14. |
John Howard |
Liberal |
Bennelong (NSW) |
18.05.1974 |
24.11.2007 |
26 July 1939 |
[showcurrentage month=”7″ day=”26″ year=”1939″ template=”1″] |
15. |
Ian MacPhee |
Liberal |
Balaclava (Vic) |
18.05.1974 |
01.12.1984 |
13 July 1938 |
[showcurrentage month=”7″ day=”13″ year=”1938″ template=”1″] |
COUNTRY PARTY / NATIONAL COUNTRY PARTY MEMBERS |
1. |
Doug Anthony |
Country |
Richmond (NSW) |
14.09.1957 |
18.01.1984 |
31 December 1929 |
[showcurrentage month=”12″ day=”31″ year=”1929″ template=”1″] |
2. |
Peter Fisher |
Country |
Mallee (Vic) |
02.12.1972 |
08.02.1993 |
19 September 1936 |
[showcurrentage month=”9″ day=”19″ year=”1936″ template=”1″] |
3. |
Bruce Lloyd |
Country |
Murray (Vic) |
20.03.1971 |
29.01.1996 |
24 February 1937 |
[showcurrentage month=”2″ day=”24″ year=”1937″ template=”1″] |
4. |
Tom McVeigh |
Country |
Darling Downs (Qld)
Groom (Qld) |
02.12.1972
01.12.1984 |
01.12.1984
29.02.1988 |
07 May 1930 |
[showcurrentage month=”5″ day=”7″ year=”1930″ template=”1″] |
5. |
Peter Nixon |
Country |
Gippsland (Vic) |
09.12.1961 |
04.02.1983 |
22 March 1928 |
[showcurrentage month=”3″ day=”22″ year=”1928″ template=”1″] |
6. |
Ian Sinclair |
Country |
New England (NSW) |
30.11.1963 |
31.08.1998 |
10 June 1929 |
[showcurrentage month=”6″ day=”10″ year=”1929″ template=”1″] |
7. |
Stephen Lusher |
Country |
Hume (NSW) |
18.05.1974 |
01.12.1984 |
18 October 1945 |
[showcurrentage month=”10″ day=”18″ year=”1945″ template=”1″] |
8. |
John Sullivan |
Country |
Riverina (NSW) |
18.05.1974 |
10.12.1977 |
07 February 1929 |
[showcurrentage month=”2″ day=”7″ year=”1929″ template=”1″] |
