THE death of Margaret Whitlam caused such an outpouring of saddened fondness that comments by the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, linking her passing with the sins of the Whitlam government appear to have struck an extremely wrong note.

He said she was a ''woman of style and substance'' and ''a marvellous consort to a very significant Labor leader and an epochal Australian prime minister''.

''There was a lot wrong with the Whitlam government but nevertheless, it was a very significant episode in our history and Margaret Whitlam was a very significant element in the political success of Gough Whitlam,'' Mr Abbott said.

Several letters to Fairfax newspapers accused Mr Abbott of inappropriately scoring a political point, of being vindictive, and an affront to basic decency.

Beth Muller, of Glenorchy, Tasmania, said Mr Abbott's comments were his most outrageous and unstatesmanlike yet.

''I apologise to Mr Whitlam and his family for this disgusting and hurtful remark on the death of Margaret Whitlam, and assure him and his family that Tony Abbott's churlish behaviour is not the behaviour that I expect from any Australian, let alone one who thinks this kind of behaviour will enable him to become the prime minister,'' she said.

Meanwhile, Malcolm Fraser, the man who took Mr Whitlam's place as prime minister, said Mr Whitlam had confided to him his sadness at no longer living under the same roof as Mrs Whitlam when he recently moved into a retirement centre for extra care.

''They were very close. I know that when Gough had to go into a place where he had to get a bit more care than at home, he was very upset that he wasn't under the same roof as Margaret,'' Mr Fraser said.

Mrs Whitlam, 92, died in St Vincent's Private Hospital in Darlinghurst on 7am on Saturday with her children at her bedside.

Mr Whitlam, 95, travelled from his Elizabeth Bay nursing home to the hospital last week to be with his wife. He said: ''She was a remarkable person and the love of my life. We were married for almost 70 years. She encouraged and sustained me and our four children, their families and many other people in a life full of engagement with Australians from all walks of life.''

The Whitlams's children, Antony, Nicholas, Stephen and Catherine, called the couple an ideal match. ''Her marriage to Gough in 1942 marked the beginning of a true political and personal partnership. He admired her intellect, wit and commitment to improving the lives of others; she described him as 'delicious' and ensured his feet remained well-grounded.''

The federal government has offered a state funeral, if the family wishes.

Do we need anymore proof that Abbott is nothing more than a diseased dog?

There was a lot wrong with the Whitlam government but nevertheless, it was a very significant episode in our history and Margaret Whitlam was a very significant element in the political success of Gough Whitlam,'' Mr Abbott said.

Several letters to Fairfax newspapers accused Mr Abbott of inappropriately scoring a political point, of being vindictive, and an affront to basic decency.




god thats outrageous...whatever next a LIE and say

the WHitlam govt was the best we had ever had...sounds much better doesnt it..


roll on the newsmedia watch.... this would never have got into print..

I wonder if labor/greens have thought of that.. 

cods wrote on Mar 19^th, 2012 at 8:03am:


the WHitlam govt was the best we had ever had

A lot of people believe that is the case in fact.

On a balanced view it was one of our best governments in many ways.

There was no need for Mr Abbott to say this however but he also didn't need to include the liberal historical re write either.

Pointing out his belief on that governments performance was simply not required and out of place, but very consistant with the Abbott performance over many years.

He could have just said poo happens after all.

In his defence I have to say that I do not believe that he is really the grub that he sometimes makes himself appear to be.