1975 In Australia

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1975 In

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1975

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1975 In Australia

1974 In Australia ,
Other Events Of 1975 ,
1976 In Australia and the
Timeline Of Australian History .

INCUMBENTS

Prime Minister - Gough Whitlam (until November 11), then Malcolm Fraser

Governor General - John Kerr

Premier Of New South Wales - Sir Robert Askin (until January 3), then Tom Lewis

Premier Of South Australia - Don Dunstan

Premier Of Queensland - Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen

Premier Of Tasmania - Eric Reece (until March 31), then Bill Neilson

Premier Of Western Australia - Charles Court

Premier Of Victoria - Rupert Hamer

EVENTS

January 5 - The Tasman Bridge in Hobart is struck by the ore carrier ''Lake Illawarra''. The bridge partially collapses onto the vessel, which sinks. Seven crew and five motorists are killed

January 19 - 2JJ, the predecessor of youth radio Triple J , commences broadcasting in Sydney

March 21 - Malcolm Fraser replaces Billy Snedden as leader of the Liberal Party Of Australia

April 25 - The Australian Embassy in Vietnam is closed and staff evacuated prior to the Fall Of Saigon

July 1 - Medibank is introduced, Australia Post and Telecom are formed from the Postmaster-General's Department (PMG)

September 16 - Papua New Guinea gains its independence from Australia

September 20 - Thirteen miners are killed in an underground coal mine explosion at the Kianga Mine at Moura, Queensland

October 17 - The Balibo Five are killed by Indonesian troops in Portuguese Timor

November 11 - The Governor General, John Kerr, dismisses the government of Gough Whitlam. Malcolm Fraser is installed as caretaker Prime Minister

December 25 - Fifteen persons are killed in an arson attack at the Savoy Hotel in Kings Cross, New South Wales .

Scientist John Cornforth is announced as Australian Of The Year

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

John Cornforth shares the Nobel Prize For Chemistry

ARTS AND LITERATURE

Kevin Connor wins the Archibald Prize with his portrait of The Hon Sir Frank Kitto, KBE

FILM

Picnic At Hanging Rock , directed by Peter Weir , is released

TELEVISION

March 1 - Colour Television is introduced

SPORT

Think Big wins the Melbourne Cup

Western Australia wins the Sheffield Shield

''Kialoa'' takes line honours in the Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race . ''Rampage'' is the handicap winner

Czechoslovakia defeats Australia 3-0 in the Federation Cup

BIRTHS

January 19 - Natalie Cook , beach volleyball player

February 4 - Natalie Imbruglia , singer

March 13 - Matt Sing , rugby league footballer

April 19 - Jason Gillespie , cricketer

May 21 - Anthony Mundine , rugby league footballer and boxer

July 2 - Daniel Kowalski , swimmer

July 17 - Loretta Harrop , triathlete

August 25 - Petria Thomas , swimmer

September 1 - Natalie Bassingthwaighte , singer/actress

October 9 - Mark Viduka , soccer player

DEATHS

September 27 - Jack Lang (b. 1876), Premier of New South Wales

November 5 - Annette Kellerman (b. 1887), swimmer and film star