Gough Whitlam to announce shock retirement from politics?

  • By Smith Alexander
  • Canberra
  • Last updated on

Former Australian Prime Minister created a stir on Monday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.
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Sad news for Whitlam fans. Speculation had been rife that the former Australian Prime Minister is about to announce his retirement from politics, at age 109, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 10/02/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a politician isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a politician just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouGough

For a little while on Monday evening, #ThankYouGough was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Gough Whitlam was unlike any other politician we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouGough”
— @universalObserver, 9 Feb 2026
“I thought Gough Whitlam retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 9 Feb 2026

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