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Ep. 370: Socially Democratic: The Recount 1972 — It's Time
Description
On the 2nd of December 1972, after 23 years of Coalition government, Gough Whitlam led Labor to victory with one of the most celebrated campaigns in Australian political history.
But how effective was it at the time?
And what does the story of that campaign reveal about how elections are actually won?
Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by Dr Stephen Mills (journalist, former speechwriter in Bob Hawke's office, and author of multiple books on elections) for a deep dive into the 1972 federal election.
They cover the Labor split of the 1950s and how it haunted the party for a generation; how Whitlam untied the Gordian knot of state aid with a single elegant policy; the accidental election of Mick Young as National Secretary; the first ever use of focus groups in a federal election campaign; and the making of the iconic It's Time ad and jingle.
Plus several new awards and categories created just for The Recount. Don't miss it.
Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday.
Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic.
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