4th Labor Government: 1961 - 1968

The **4th Labor Government** was formed on the 22nd of February in the Kingdom of Dissau with Astryd Rigby as Prime Minister. The government was formed after winning the 1961 Dissauian General Election. The 1961 Election was notable because the leader of the Labor Party was a woman and she won the election, becoming the first female Prime Minister in Dissau and youngest Prime Minister ever in Dissau. Rigby was determined to bring in a wave of social progress and political change in the country and did so. She legalised abortion up to the 14th week of pregnancy, legalised homosexual activities, introduced protections for gay people in employment, and more things. Rigby's first premiership as Prime Minister of the 4th Labor Government has been seen as the most socially progressive and successful government in the history of Dissau. Rigby won the 1963 General Election with a larger majority and once again one the 1964 General Election with an ever larger majority. Her government finally dissolved on the 14th of August after losing the 1968 Dissauian General Election.

## Changes

### 1961 - 1964

* The Abortion Act 1961 legalised abortions under any circumstances up to the 14th week.
* The Homosexuality Act 1962 legalised homosexual activities in Dissau and once again allowed homosexual people to be employed. The act also reversed the Homosexuality Propaganda Act 1954 by allowing public displays of homosexuality and promoting it.
* The Buses & Coaches Act 1962 nationalized buses and other forms of bus-like transport in the country under the National Bus Services.
* The Sex Discrimination Act 1963 made it illegal to discriminate against somebody of the grounds of their sex.
* The Pensions Act 1963 reformed the pension system for government employees and now allowed 62 and 63-year-olds to receive pensions.
* The Homosexual Employment Act 1964 barred employers from not employing somebody on the grounds of their sexuality as well as barring employers from firing a workers on the grounds of their sexuality. The National Board for Employment was also set up to regulate employers.
* The MPs Act 1964 reallowed Maxifolians to be elected and serve in Parliament.

### 1965 - 1968

* The Free School Provisions Act 1965 introduced stationary and free school lunches for primary school students and free school text books for secondary school students provided for by the government.
* The Free School Meals Act 1965 reintroduced free schools meals for primary schools students and Grade 8 and 9 secondary schools students but It gave Grade 10, 11, 12, and 13 students who's parents struggle with money free school meals.
* The Alcohol Act 1965 lowered the age of purchasing and consuming alcohol from 20 to 18 and permitted having one alcoholic drink below 6% alcohol with a meal in a restaurant. The act also allowed those aged 18 or over to drink in public, outside of legal drinking venues.
* The Capital Punishment Act 1966 removed the death penalty as a valid form of capital punishment.
* The Protection of Children Act 1966 banned teachers in schools from hitting a child or using an object to hit a child.
* Racial Discrimination Act 1967 made it illegal to discriminate somebody on the grounds of the colour of their skin, ethnic background, and nationality.
* The Libraries Act 1967 renationalized libraries across the country but gave local councils the power to control them.
* Countryside Paths Act 1968 encouraged local councils to create paths in the countryside for walking.
* The 4th Labor Government increased the number of immigrants in the country yearly from 35,000 in 1960 to around 150,000 in 1968.

## Foreign Affairs

The 4th Labor Government was determined to strike out against totalitarian regimes by deciding to unrecognize the People's Republic of China as China and recognise the Republic of China as the true China. This led to major backlash from the Chinese government who decided to cut trade with Dissau in 1963 but eventually lifted this ban in 1966. The Soviet Union attempted to strengthen ties with Rigby as her socialist predecessors who controlled government had supported the Soviet Union (except from Ruben Cantallof and Edward Meyer) but Rigby expressed her distaste of the Soviet Union. She expressed her hatred towards the totalitarian state of which the Soviet Union was and that she did not support the country in its current state. This led to relations between the Soviet Union and Dissau go to their worst ever even when National Moderate was in power.

Rigby supported the decolonisation of Africa, sending her Minister for Foreign Affairs to countries still under French, British, Spanish, and Portuguese rule. She was an avid supporter of the independence of the countries and frequently held negotiations with foreign powers about the decolonisation process. She supported the initiatives by the Labor Government in the United Kingdom for the decolonisation of Africa and reportedly had good relations with UK Prime Minister, Harold Wilson.

Rigby was against the Vietnam war after holding her famous Anti-Blood Speech in 1963. She withdrew troops in 1962 that were deployed by the previous 4th National Moderate Government and continued to show her concern over the war. She called for the United States to withdraw their troops numerous time between 1963 to 1968 and reportedly despised US President, Lydon B. Johnson.