Gough Whitlam, former Australian Prime Minister, has died at the age of 98.
His administration in 1972, launched major initiatives that transformed the country after more than 20 years of leadership by a conservative governing coalition.
But his government was plagued by resignations and the governor-general dismissed it in 1975, after just three years.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott described the deceased as a “giant of his time” and said flags across Australia would fly at half-mast on Tuesday.
In a statement, Withlam’s family said he was an “inspiration to us and our families and for millions of Australians.”
Whitlam’s reforms included introducing free university education, abolishing the death penalty and allowing non-white immigrants into Australia.
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