" Participation rates actually did not go up all that much."
That is probably true -however participation rates especially for working class was dreadful prior to Whitlam. And the correlation / connectivity of a parent of family member being tertiary educated, and others in the family aspiring too is obvious.
My point is that he changed society for the better.
And yes - he could have been better. His cabinet could have been better. However that government achieved a great deal.
