Whitlam's Woes

In Australia, constitutional referendums are traditional bearers of woe: only five out of 26 have won popular support in the 72 years since federation. The latest referendum-giving Gough Whit-lam's Labor government control over prices and income, as a means of controlling inflation-was no exception. It was resoundingly defeated, with the incomes question drawing an alltime low yes vote of about 35%.

Some analysts interpreted the vote as a slap at Labor's attempt to transform conservative Australia into a welfare state, plus a protest against inflation, which has more than doubled in the year that Whitlam has been Prime Minister. The independent Melbourne Age offered an even gloomier interpretation. It saw an "ominous precedent" in the vote, noting that the last time a Labor government had ruled the country, its ouster (in 1949) was preceded by a similar rejection of a referendum over the issue of federal control of prices.

While Laborites have tried to put a good face on the defeat by saying that the vote cannot be construed as a popularity poll, they obviously are concerned by the extent of public disenchantment. Before the vote, Whitlam had been considering whether to dissolve Parliament in May when election for half the Senate is due in a bid to strengthen Labor's tenuous position (Labor controls the lower house, the opposition the Senate). Such a dissolution now obviously could mean his defeat and a premature end to Australia's socialist experiment.

Yet Whitlam knows he cannot avoid an election showdown indefinitely. He gave some indication of the line he may take when he confided to colleagues last week: "I won't be a lame-duck Prime Minister. Anyone in this job enjoys it, but there is no point in enjoying the prestige if one cannot deliver the goods." The prospect is that he will take his chances at the polls next year.

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