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 twenty-five former MPs from 1972-75 who are still living. There are 9 men from the ALP, 9 from the Liberal Party and 7 from the Country Party. Only 17 (13.49%) of 126 members elected to the 28th Parliament in 1972 are still alive. Of the 128 members elected to the 29th Parliament, there are 25 (19.53%) still living.

The oldest former member is the Country Party’s Peter Nixon, who is 96. The National Country Party’s second oldest living member is Ian Sinclair, 95. The ALP’s oldest former member is Peter Morris, 92. The Liberal Party’s oldest surviving member is Ian Viner, 91. The youngest surviving member of this period is the ALP’s John Dawkins, who is 77.

As of November 26, 2024, there are 2 former members aged in their 70s, 15 in their 80s and 8 in their 90s.

Recent Deaths

The most recent deaths of members elected in 1972 and 1974 have been:
– Nov 14, 2024: John Hodges, Liberal (Petrie-Qld), 87
– Jan 30, 2024: Manfred Cross, ALP (Brisbane-Qld), 94
– Oct 21, 2023: Bill Hayden, ALP (Oxley-Qld), 90
– May 05, 2023: Tony Staley, Liberal (Chisholm-Vic), 83
– Mar 29, 2023: John Kerin, ALP (Macarthur-NSW), 85
– Oct 31, 2022: Bob Ellicott, Liberal (Wentworth-NSW), 95
– Oct 25, 2022: Tony Street, Liberal (Corangamite-Vic), 96
– Jun 17, 2022: John Mountford, ALP (Banks-NSW), 88
– Feb 26, 2022: Dr Moss Cass, ALP (Maribyrnong-Vic), 95
– Jan 01, 2022: Vic Garland, Liberal (Curtin-WA), 87
– Apr 16, 2021: Andrew Peacock, Liberal (Kooyong-Vic), 82
– Dec 20, 2020: Doug Anthony, Country (Richmond-NSW), 90
– Nov 15, 2020: Chris Hurford, ALP (Adelaide-SA), 89
– Aug 10, 2019: Dr Jim Forbes, Liberal (Barker-SA), 95
– Dec 09, 2018: Gordon Scholes, ALP (Corio-Vic), 87
– Jun 02, 2018: Joe Berinson, ALP (Perth-WA), 86
– Dec 18, 2017: Barry Cohen, ALP (Robertson-NSW), 82
– Nov 28, 2017: Clarrie Millar, Country (Wide Bay-Qld), 92
– Aug 31, 2017: John Bourchier, Liberal (Bendigo-Vic), 87
– Aug 24, 2017: Doug Everingham, ALP (Capricornia-Qld), 94
– Mar 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 November 26, 2024. 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