Gough Whitlam was Australia's 21st prime minister.
FORMER prime minister Gough Whitlam died this morning in Canberra, aged 98.
His children - Antony, Nicholas and Stephen Whitlam and Catherine Dovey - issued a statement on Tuesday morning.
"Our father, Gough Whitlam, has died this morning at the age of 98," the statement said.
"A loving and generous father, he was a source of inspiration to us and our families and for millions of Australians."
There will be a private cremation and a public memorial service.
Labor MPs are already paying tribute to their former leader.
A meeting of federal caucus is scheduled for Tuesday morning and it's understood Labor leader Bill Shorten will make his first statement about Gough Whitlam's death then.
