1980 In Australia

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1980 In Australia

1979 In Australia ,
Other Events Of 1980 ,
1981 In Australia

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1980 Australian Incumbents

INCUMBENTS

Prime Minister - Malcolm Fraser

Governor General - Sir Zelman Cowen

Premier Of New South Wales - Neville Wran

Premier Of South Australia - David Tonkin

Premier Of Queensland - Joh Bjelke-Petersen

Premier Of Tasmania - Doug Lowe

Premier Of Western Australia - Sir Charles Court

Premier Of Victoria - Rupert Hamer

Chief Minister Of The Australian Capital Territory - Post did not exist in 1980.

Chief Minister Of The Northern Territory - Paul Everingham

EVENTS

February 21 - A Beech 200 light aircraft crashes at Sydney Airport , killing 13.

February 23 - The Liberal / National Coalition government of Sir Charles Court is re-elected in Western Australia .

March 24 - The Australian Olympic Federation announces it will send an Olympic delegation to Moscow , despite objections raised by the Prime Minister .

June 7 - Paul Everingham's Country Liberal Party government is re-elected in the Northern Territory .

August 17 - Azaria Chamberlain Disappears from a campsite at Ayers Rock ( Uluru ), reportedly taken by a Dingo .

October 18 - The Federal Election sees Malcolm Fraser's Liberal/National coalition government re-elected for a third consecutive term, albeit with an almost halved majority.

November 29 - In Queensland , the National Party government of Joh Bjelke-Petersen is re-elected.

Unknown Dates

Victoria decriminalises Homosexual acts between consenting adults.

Construction begins on New Parliament House , Canberra ACT.

ARTS & LITERATURE

FILM

TELEVISION

January 17 - Gippsland 's GLV-10 becomes GLV-8 . This is done so that Melbourne 's ATV-0 can become ATV-10 .

January 20 - ATV -0 becomes ATV-10. This move promts the 0-10 Network to change its name to Network Ten , although Brisbane 's TVQ-0 would continue to broadcast on Channel 0 until 1988 . On the same night, Ten's new drama series '' Arcade '' premieres. It is regarded as the biggest flop in Australian Television history, costing over $ 3 million to make & being axed after 49 episodes.

January 30 - Kingswood Country debuts on ATN-7 .

October 24 - SBS commences transmission in Sydney & Melbourne on VHF Channel 0 & UHF Channel 28, becoming the first Station in Australia to use UHF frequencies.

SPORT

July 8 - Queensland defeat New South Wales 20-10 in the first Rugby League State Of Origin match, played at Lang Park (now Suncorp Stadium) in Brisbane.

September 27 - The Canterbury Bulldogs defeat the Eastern Suburbs Roosters (now Sydney Roosters) 18-4 to win the 73rd NSWRL premiership. It is the first premiership for Canterbury since 1942 & the last ever grand final played on a Saturday. In the process, Steve Gearin scores one of the most spectacular tries in history.

September 27 - On the same day, the Richmond Tigers (23.21.159) defeat the Collingwood Magpies (9.24.78) to win the 84th VFL / AFL premiership. It is the most recent premiership win for Richmond .

October 5 - Alan Jones becomes the second Australian driver to win the Formula One World Drivers Championship after winning the Final race of the Season at Watkins Glen , New York .

December 13 - The Illawarra Steelers are accepted as the 13th team in the NSWRL premiership for 1982 , making them the first team from outside the Sydney metropolitan area to compete in the competition since Newcastle in 1909 .

BIRTHS

May 9 - Grant Hackett , swimmer

September 29 - Val Debauchee , artist

DEATHS

November 20 - John McEwen , eighteenth Prime Minister of Australia