2009 in Australia

none October 2026 February 2012 Elizabeth II Quentin Bryce Kevin Rudd QLD The following lists events that happened during 2009 in Australia. 2009 Incumbents thumb|upright|140px|Quentin Bryce thumb|upright|140px|Kevin Rudd Monarch – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Quentin Bryce Prime Minister – Kevin Rudd Deputy Prime Minister – Julia Gillard Opposition Leader – Malcolm Turnbull (until 1 December), then Tony Abbott Chief Justice – Robert French State and territory leaders Premier of New South Wales – Nathan Rees (until 4 December), then Kristina Keneally Opposition Leader – Barry O'Farrell Premier of Queensland – Anna Bligh Opposition Leader – Lawrence Springborg (until 2 April), then John-Paul Langbroek Premier of South Australia – Mike Rann Opposition Leader – Martin Hamilton-Smith (until 8 July), then Isobel Redmond Premier of Tasmania – David Bartlett Opposition Leader – Will Hodgman Premier of Victoria – John Brumby Opposition Leader – Ted Baillieu Premier of Western Australia – Colin Barnett Opposition Leader – Eric Ripper Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory – Jon Stanhope Opposition Leader – Zed Seselja Chief Minister of the Northern Territory – Paul Henderson Opposition Leader – Terry Mills Chief Minister of Norfolk Island – Andre Nobbs Governors and administrators Governor of New South Wales – Marie Bashir Governor of Queensland – Penelope Wensley Governor of South Australia – Kevin Scarce Governor of Tasmania – Peter Underwood Governor of Victoria – David de Kretser Governor of Western Australia – Ken Michael Administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories – Brian Lacy (from 5 October) Administrator of Norfolk Island – Owen Walsh Administrator of the Northern Territory – Tom Pauling Events Whole year Year of the Blood Donor.Year of the Blood Donor 2009, Australian Red Cross. https://web.archive.org/web/20090131134208/http://www.donateblood.com.au/page.aspx?IDDataTreeMenu=233 31 January 2009 January 2 to 8 January – Violence strikes the Housing NSW estate in Rosemeadow. The estate is due to be demolished.Demolition ordered for Rosemeadow estate https://web.archive.org/web/20150924201654/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/demolition-orders/2009/01/07/1231004105780.html 24 September 2015 , The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 January 2009. 4 January – Torrential downpours in north western Queensland cause flooding in Cloncurry and Mount Isa.Floods cut off north-west Qld towns https://web.archive.org/web/20110522043930/http://news.smh.com.au/national/floods-cut-off-northwest-qld-towns-20090104-79qp.html 22 May 2011 , The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 January 2009. 16 January – Trooper Mark Donaldson is awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia for actions in Oruzgan province during Operation Slipper, the Australian contribution to the War in Afghanistan. 28 to 31 January – Southeastern Australia swelterssimilar to shelters August 2025 in a 1 in 100-year heatwave.Tracks buckle and so does rail system 28 January 2009 The Age https://web.archive.org/web/20230313230938/https://www.theage.com.au/national/tracks-buckle-and-so-does-rail-system-20090128-7s0h.html 13 March 2023 live http://www.theage.com.au/national/tracks-buckle-and-so-does-rail-system-20090128-7s0h.html 29 January – Victoria Police arrest a Melbourne man for murder, after he allegedly throws his four-year-old daughter off the West Gate Bridge.Father to front court in May over Melbourne bridge tragedy https://web.archive.org/web/20090201031906/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/30/2477921.htm 1 February 2009 , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 30 January 2009. February 3 February – Justice Virginia Bell is sworn in as a puisne judge of the High Court of Australia, replacing Justice Michael Kirby who retired the previous day.3 February 2009 Justice Bell sworn in as High Court judge http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-03/justice-bell-sworn-in-as-high-court-judge/281406 https://web.archive.org/web/20121108173829/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-03/justice-bell-sworn-in-as-high-court-judge/281406 8 November 2012 9 October 2026 Australian Broadcasting Corporation en-AU 3 February – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd unveils a second economic stimulus package to the value of A$42 billion.Rudd's $42 billion 'nation building' plan, Canberra Times, 3 February 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090207045357/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/rudds-42-billion-nation-building-plan/1423507.aspx?storypage=0 7 February 2009 4 February – Heavy rain causes major flooding at Ingham in north Queensland.Flood damage in Ingham 'horrendous' https://web.archive.org/web/20090205105525/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/04/2481687.htm 5 February 2009 , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 4 February 2009. 7 February – Bushfires in Victoria kill 173 people in what are not only the nation's worst ever bushfires, surpassing the record set by Ash Wednesday in 1983. Also the nation's worst peacetime disaster since Cyclone Mahina in 1899.8 February 2009 Australia bushfires kill 14, more feared dead https://timesofmalta.com/article/australia-bushfires-kill-14-more-feared-dead.244111 9 October 2026 Times of Malta en-gbVictorian bushfires kill 181, Victorian Police, 11 February 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090313151520/http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=19190 13 March 2009 13 February – The Federal Government's $42 billion economic stimulus package is passed in the Senate, paving the way for promised cash bonuses for workers around the country. 22 February – Australia observes a National Day of Mourning in remembrance of the 209 (later revised downwards to 173) people who perished in the Victorian bushfires. https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/australia-mourns-victims-lost-to-bushfires-of-black-saturday-xbn5pzqppfz Australia mourns victims lost to bushfires of Black Saturday The Times Anne Barrowclough 22 February 2009 23 February 2009 London https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation%2Fnation%2Fpm-declares-sacred-day-for-the-dead%2Fnews-story%2F39ba59b5cd630ab8ff034bec7da44513 PM declares 'sacred day' for the dead The Australian Julie-Anne Davies 23 February 2009 23 February 2009 25 February – Pacific Brands announces it is ceasing manufacturing operations in Australia, at a cost of 1,850 jobs.Pacific Brands axes 1850 jobs https://web.archive.org/web/20090515111904/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-business/pacific-brands-axes-1850-aussie-jobs-20090225-8h81.html 15 May 2009 , Australian Associated Press via The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 February 2009 March 4 March – Cyclone Hamish, the first category 5 cyclone since Cyclone George in 2007, develops in the Coral Sea and moves southwards along the Queensland coast causing extensive damage to the Great Barrier Reef but does not make landfall. It eventually dissipates on 14 March.Central Queensland braces as Cyclone Hamish looms as 30-year storm 8 March 2009 The Australian http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25156492-11949,00.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090312093747/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25156492-11949,00.html 12 March 2009 Australia's economy slumps 0.5 per cent, its first quarter of negative growth in 8 years. 11 March – The cargo ship MV Pacific Adventurer leaks about 230,000 litres of fuel oil along 60 km of southern Queensland's coast after battling a cyclone.Pacific Adventurer oil spill 10 times worse 14 March 2009 couriermail.com.au http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,25187733-3102,00.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090822045249/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,25187733-3102,00.html 22 August 2009 14 March – The Victorian bushfires are officially declared contained.It's over: Victorian fires contained 14 March 2009 news.com.au https://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/its-over-victorian-fires-contained/news-story/9005c613def1e45151c1fa442e64a818 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090317003030/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25187388-421,00.html 17 March 2009 20 March – Marcus Einfeld (former Superior Court judge) is sentenced to 3 years in jail for perjury relative to a speeding ticket.Scheikowski Margaret 19 March 2009 Marcus Einfeld jailed for perjury https://www.smh.com.au/national/marcus-einfeld-jailed-for-perjury-20090320-93jp.html 9 October 2026 The Sydney Morning Herald en https://web.archive.org/web/20251207000435/https://www.smh.com.au/national/marcus-einfeld-jailed-for-perjury-20090320-93jp.html 7 December 2025 liveNSWCCA 87 2010 Einfeld v R 5 May 2010 auto.)] 20 March – Emirates Flight 407 was taking off from Melbourne Airport for a flight to Dubai and failed to become airborne in the normal distance. When the aircraft was approaching the end of the runway, the crew commanded nose-up sharply causing the tail to scrape along the runway as it became airborne. 21 March – A Sydney film crew claims to be 100% certain of the finding of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's plane Lady Southern Cross in the Bay of Bengal.ir Charles Kingsford Smith's final resting place found, says film crew https://web.archive.org/web/20090323040728/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C27574%2C25218600-421%2C00.html 23 March 2009 , www.news.com.au, 21 March 2009 21 March – Anna Bligh claims victory in the Queensland state election and becomes the country's first elected female Premier.Anna Bligh claims victory in Queensland election 22 March 2009 news.com.au http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25222753-2,00.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090324022117/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25222753-2,00.html 24 March 2009 22 March – A member of the Hells Angels is killed in a clash between the Hell's Angels and Comanchero motorcycle gangs in the terminal at Sydney Airport.http://www.smh.com.au/national/bikie-killed-in-sydney-airport-brawl-20090323-95xc.html Bikie killed in Sydney Airport brawl The Sydney Morning Herald 23 March 2009 11 September 2011 Dylan Welch, Les Kennedy and Ellie Harvey 21 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230921111906/https://www.smh.com.au/national/bikie-killed-in-sydney-airport-brawl-20090323-95xc.html live 31 March – Torrential rain around the mid-north New South Wales coast leaves thousands stranded and forces people from over 100 properties to evacuate in the Coffs Harbour area.Floods leave thousands stranded 1 April 2009 news.com.au http://www.news.com.au/story/0,,25273404-1242,00.htmlOctober 2026 medicmedic April 7 April – The Australian government announces that it has terminated the request for proposal for the National Broadband Network, and that the network will be built as a public private partnership.Australia to build broadband network https://web.archive.org/web/20201122193522/https://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE5356YN20090406 22 November 2020 , Reuters, 6 April 2009. 16 April – An explosion on a boat carrying Afghan asylum seekers kills 5 and injures 34 off the coast of Western Australia.Asylum-seekers 'dead, missing' in explosion on way to Christmas Island 16 April 2009 news.com.au http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25341744-421,00.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090417043329/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25341744-421,00.html 17 April 2009 16 April – Two adults and a child are killed when a V/Line bus rolls in Heathmere, Victoria.Three crushed to death as V/Line bus overturns in Heathmere, Victoria 16 April 2009 news.com.au http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25343739-421,00.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090417183106/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25343739-421,00.html 17 April 2009 May 9 May – The first case of swine flu in Australia is confirmed in Queensland.First case of Human Swine Influenza detected in Australia, Department of Health and Ageing, 9 May 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090520190055/http://www.healthemergency.gov.au/internet/healthemergency/publishing.nsf/Content/health-swine_influenza-index.htm#First 20 May 2009 11 May – The Australian Broadcasting Corporation television program Four Corners presents a report titled "Code of Silence" about alleged sexual misconduct by rugby league players, leading to a public debate on professional sportsman and group sex.http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2009/s2567972.htm Code of Silence Ferguson Sarah 11 May 2009 Four Corners Australian Broadcasting Corporation 21 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090515103820/http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2009/s2567972.htm 15 May 2009 dead 12 May – Treasurer Wayne Swan hands down the 2009 Australian federal budget.Australia prepares for Budget 09 https://web.archive.org/web/20090515161343/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25465887-5012587,00.html? 15 May 2009 , news.com.au, 12 May 2009. 16 May – A plebiscite on daylight saving in Western Australia following a three-year trial fails on a No vote of 54.56%. On the same day, a by-election in the Western Australian state seat of Fremantle produces a victory for Greens WA candidate Adele Carles. 21–22 May – Following 48 hours of torrential rain, Brisbane and other parts of South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales are affected by major flooding, said to be the worst since the Brisbane River broke its bank in the 1974 Brisbane flood.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/21/2577069.htm?section=justin SE Qld flooding 'worst since 1974' 21 March 2009 Australian Broadcasting Corporation 21 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090522113012/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/21/2577069.htm?section=justin 22 May 2009 dead June 3 June – Australia avoids a recession after the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals the economy for the March quarter grew by a 0.4 per cent from the final quarter of 2008. 4 June – Joel Fitzgibbon resigns as Minister for Defence after admitting to a breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct.Rodgers, Emma: Fitzgibbon resigns as Defence Minister https://web.archive.org/web/20101130151127/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/04/2589300.htm 30 November 2010 , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 4 June 2009. 15 June – Des Moran, a member of Melbourne's notorious Moran family and brother of Lewis Moran, is shot dead in Ascot Vale.Des Moran shot dead in Melbourne's Ascot Vale https://web.archive.org/web/20090616063217/http://www.theage.com.au/national/des-moran-shot-dead-in-melbournes-ascot-vale-20090615-c821.html 16 June 2009 , The Age, 15 June 2009. 19 June – Australia's first swine flu-related fatality occurs when a 26-year-old West Australian man dies in Adelaide.Pepper, Daile: WA man dies from swine flu https://web.archive.org/web/20090621123818/http://www.smh.com.au/national/wa-man-dies-from-swine-flu-20090619-cq3z.html 21 June 2009 , The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 June 2009. July 5 July – An Australian mining executive for the Rio Tinto Group, Stern Hu, is detained in Shanghai, China facing accusations of stealing state secrets.Daley, Gemma: Rio's Stern Hu May Face Life in Chinese Jail, Australian Says, Bloomberg L.P., 23 July 2009. 14 July – The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett, announced that the Australian Government had approved the development of the Four Mile uranium mine in South Australia. World's best environmental practice for new mine Australian Government 14 July 2009 http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2009/mr20090714b.html 20 July 2009 18 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090718120342/http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2009/mr20090714b.html live 18 July – Five members of the Lin family are murdered in their North Epping home. A relative, Robert Xie, is arrested in 2011, and found guilty of the murders in 2017 after numerous retrials. 25 July – 108-year-old Perth man Claude Choules, who moved to Australia from Britain in 1926, becomes his birth nation's last known surviving World War I veteran on the death of 111-year-old Harry Patch in Somerset, England. Mr Choules, who was born in Worcestershire, England, joined the Royal Navy as a seaman in 1916.https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/australasia-travel/australia/former-royal-navy-seaman-claude-choules-is-now-the-last-briton-standing-9dc0v07t7xd London The Times Sophie Tedmanson Former Royal Navy seaman Claude Choules is now the last Briton standing 26 July 2009 13 October 2010 August 4 August – Over 400 police and intelligence officers conduct a series of dawn raids in Melbourne, arresting members of an alleged Islamic terrorist cell who are suspected of plotting a suicide attack on Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney.Arrests in Vic counter-terrorism raids, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 4 August 2009. 11 August – Nine Australians, including seven from Victoria and two from Queensland, are killed when their plane crashes into the side of a cliff face on their way to Kokoda, Papua New Guinea.12 August 2009 Adventure turns to tragedy for PNG trekkers https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-08-12/adventure-turns-to-tragedy-for-png-trekkers/1388474 9 October 2026 ABC News en-AU https://web.archive.org/web/20161030023619/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-08-12/adventure-turns-to-tragedy-for-png-trekkers/1388474 30 October 2016 live 14 August – Paul Henderson's Labor government in the Northern Territory survives a motion of no-confidence following the resignation of Alison Anderson, after receiving support from independent politician Gerry Wood.Calacouras, Nick: Henderson holds on, Northern Territory News, 14 August 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20120305171150/http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/14/75521_ntnews.html 5 March 2012 30 August – Victorian MP Tim Holding goes missing while on a solo hike on Mount Feathertop. Searchers find him alive and well two days later on 1 September.Holding found alive on Mt Feathertop https://web.archive.org/web/20090902073209/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/01/2672914.htm 2 September 2009 , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 1 September 2009. 31 August– New South Wales Minister for Health and Australian Labor Party leader in the Legislative Council, John Della Bosca, resigned his Ministerial and leadership positions following public revelation of an extra-marital affair.http://www.smh.com.au/national/della-bosca-quits-after-sex-scandal--ive-taken-my-medicine-20090901-f5fa.html Della Bosca quits after sex scandal: 'I've taken my medicine' Clennell Andrew 1 September 2009 The Sydney Morning Herald 1 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091005181431/http://www.smh.com.au/national/della-bosca-quits-after-sex-scandal--ive-taken-my-medicine-20090901-f5fa.html 5 October 2009 live September 23 September – Major dust storms hit Eastern Australia.Sydney breathes again as dust covers Brisbane https://web.archive.org/web/20090925014036/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/23/2694487.htm 25 September 2009 , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 23 September 2009. October 9 October – The world's largest tensegrity bridge, the Kurilpa Bridge is opened in Brisbane 15 October – A six-month-old baby survives when his pram rolls off the platform at Ashburton railway station, Melbourne and is struck by the approaching train.Baby survives after being run over by train https://web.archive.org/web/20251104211506/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8311289.stm 4 November 2025 , BBC News, 16 October 2009. 18 October – Australian Customs vessel the MV Oceanic Viking rescues 78 asylum seekers – claiming to be Tamil refugees from the conflict in Sri Lanka – inside Indonesia's search and rescue zone. The migrants are taken to Bintan island in Indonesia however they refuse to disembark or co-operate with Indonesian customs officials.http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26281310-25837,00.html https://archive.today/20120919092031/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26281310-25837,00.html dead 19 September 2012 Indonesia gives Oceanic Viking another week 30 October 2009 The Australian AFP 30 October 2009 November 11 November – Claude Choules becomes the world's oldest first-time author at the age of 108 when his autobiography The Last of the Last is published.http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/perth-wwi-veteran-claude-choules-108-publishes-the-last-of-the-last/story-e6frg15c-1225796638140 Perth WWI veteran Claude Choules, 108, publishes The Last of the Last Perth Now 11 November 2009 18 August 2012 31 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120531085642/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/perth-wwi-veteran-claude-choules-108-publishes-the-last-of-the-last/story-e6frg15c-1225796638140 live 16 November – Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull apologise on behalf of Australia to the "Forgotten Australians": people who suffered neglect and abuse as children in state care, in particular, thousands of Home Children – British child migrants forcibly emigrated to Australia until the 1960s.Rodgers, Emma: Australia says sorry for 'great evil' https://web.archive.org/web/20110207000353/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/16/2743742.htm 7 February 2011 , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 16 November 2009. December 1 December – Tony Abbott becomes Leader of the Opposition after defeating Malcolm Turnbull in a ballot for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/01/2758221.htm 1 December 2009 Shock win for Abbott in leadership vote Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1 December 2009 24 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101124065002/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/01/2758221.htm dead 4 December – Kristina Keneally is sworn in as the first female Premier of New South Wales after defeating Nathan Rees in a ballot for leadership of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales the previous day.Keneally first female NSW Premier https://web.archive.org/web/20160126113258/http://www.smh.com.au/national/keneally-first-female-nsw-premier-20091203-k8j0.html 26 January 2016 , The Sydney Morning Herald, 3 December 2009. 5 December – By-elections are held for the electorates of Bradfield and Higgins.Higgins, Bradfield by-elections announced, ABC News, 26 October 2009. Both by-elections are won by the Liberal Party candidates: Paul Fletcher (Bradfield) and Kelly O'Dwyer (Higgins).Liberals escape voter backlash https://web.archive.org/web/20091207132455/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/06/2763138.htm 7 December 2009 , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 6 December 2009. Arts and literature 2009 in Australian literature 6 March – Guy Maestri wins the 2009 Archibald Prize for his portrait of indigenous musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu.McLaren, Oscar: Archibald prize winner announced https://web.archive.org/web/20121108224100/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2509796.htm 8 November 2012 , PM (Radio National), 6 March 2009. 18 June – Tim Winton wins his fourth Miles Franklin Award for the novel Breath.Winton wins Franklin https://web.archive.org/web/20090620233751/http://www.theage.com.au/national/winton-wins-franklin-20090618-clwl.html 20 June 2009 , The Age, 19 June 2009. Science and technology 21 May – Researchers at Swinburne University of Technology announce the development of an optical disc technology capable of holding 10,000 times as much data as a DVD.New DVD Which Can Hold Thousands of Films http://news.sky.com/story/694529/new-dvd-which-can-hold-thousands-of-films https://web.archive.org/web/20121002144206/http://news.sky.com/story/694529/new-dvd-which-can-hold-thousands-of-films 2 October 2012 9 October 2026 Sky News en-GB Film 6 April – The world premiere of Star Trek is held at the Sydney Opera House.Star Trek world premiere in Sydney 7 April 2009 The Daily Telegraph http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25304499-5001026,00.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090429223035/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25304499-5001026,00.html 29 April 2009 Television 2009 in Australian television 10 January – Peter Overton takes over as the anchorman of Sydney's 6pm Nine News on weeknights after Mark Ferguson is suspended indefinitely after poor ratings, losing to Seven News. 7–14 February – All three commercial networks in Australia take extensive news coverage of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires, in which 181 people lost their lives, including former Nine newsreader Brian Naylor and actor Reg Evans. 9 February – The premiere of Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities sets the ratings record of the highest-rating Australian television series launch since the introduction of the OzTAM people meter system in 2001.Underbelly breaks ratings record https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation%2Fnation%2Funderbelly-breaks-ratings-record%2Fnews-story%2F5d804f09159db05110c78b563626de84 The Australian 10 February 2009 16 May 2009David Knox 2.58m: Underbelly sets new record http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/02/258m-underbelly-sets-new-record.html tvtonight.com.au 10 February 2009 16 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090520131754/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/02/258m-underbelly-sets-new-record.html 20 May 2009 live The launch attracted 2.58 million viewers, and is also the highest rating non-sporting program in television history. 26 March – One HD launches. 26 April – Talia Fowler wins the second season of So You Think You Can Dance Australia.David Knox Dance: It's Talia! http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/04/dance-its-talia.html tvtonight.com.au 26 April 2009 16 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090429093627/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/04/dance-its-talia.html 29 April 2009 dead 3 May – Rebecca Gibney wins the Gold Logie Award for the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television at the 2009 Logie Awards.David Knox Rebecca Gibney wins Gold Logie for Packed to the Rafters http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25423802-5001021,00.html The Daily Telegraph Sydney 3 May 2009 16 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090506061301/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0%2C22049%2C25423802-5001021%2C00.html 6 May 2009 dead David Knox Gold Logie: It's Rebecca! http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/05/gold-logie-its-rebecca.html tvtonight.com.au 3 May 2009 16 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090506040818/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/05/gold-logie-its-rebecca.html 6 May 2009 dead 12 May – The ABC receives an extra $136.4 million over three years from the 2009 federal budget to develop an advertising-free digital children's channel (ABC3),David Knox Budget: $136m for ABC3, $20m for SBS, Community TV unhappy http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/05/budget-136m-for-abc3-20m-for-sbs-community-tv-unhappy.html tvtonight.com.au 12 May 2009 16 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090515104648/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/05/budget-136m-for-abc3-20m-for-sbs-community-tv-unhappy.html 15 May 2009 dead and increase its production of local drama to 90 hours a year, a similar level to the amount required by the commercial networks. The budget also allocated SBS an extra $20 million over the same period to produce up to 50 hours of new Australian content each year. This figure is significantly below the extra $70 million SBS were seeking per year. 13 May – Former rugby league footballer and The NRL Footy Show presenter, Matthew Johns, is suspended indefinitely from the program by the Nine Network following reports of his involvement in a group sex act with other Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players in 2002.David Knox Nine stands down Matty Johns http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/05/nine-set-to-stand-down-matty-johns.html tvtonight.com.au 13 May 2009 16 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090515124250/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/05/nine-set-to-stand-down-matty-johns.html 15 May 2009 dead The incident was first reported on ABC1's current affairs program, Four Corners, on 11 May 2009. 3 June – A skit involving terminally ill children and the fictional 'Make a Realistic Wish Foundation' (a parody of the Make-a-Wish Foundation) causes public outrage after airing on an episode of The Chaser's War on Everything on ABC1. The skit involved The Chaser members Chris Taylor (as the foundation spokesperson) and Andrew Hansen (as a doctor). The premise of the skit was that if the terminally ill children are only going to live for a few more months before dying, it is not worth spending money on lavish gifts for them. It portrayed the children requesting extravagant items such as a trip to Disneyland and the chance to meet Zac Efron, with Taylor and Hansen instead giving them a pencil case and a stick respectively. The skit concluded with Taylor stating "Why go to any trouble, when they're only gonna die anyway". Following public criticism of the skit, both The Chaser and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation issued statements of apology. The ABC subsequently suspended the series for two weeks following the controversy. The series returned on 24 June. 8 June – Gordon Ramsay called Tracy Grimshaw a "pig" in an interview for A Current Affair. 10 June – The Nine Network announces the third series of Underbelly will be titled Underbelly: The Golden Mile,David Knox Underbelly 3: The Golden Mile http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/06/underbelly-3-the-golden-mile.html tvtonight.com.au 11 June 2009 11 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090614080240/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/06/underbelly-3-the-golden-mile.html 14 June 2009 dead and will focus on Kings Cross in Sydney, beginning in 1989, and also include the Wood Royal Commission into police corruption. 19 July – Julie Goodwin wins the first series of MasterChef Australia, beating Poh Ling Yeow. 9 August – The Nine Network launches a new free-to-air digital channel named Go!, with the expansion of programing launched on 4 October. 7 October – The Jackson Jive, one of the acts in the Red Faces segment in the second of two Hey Hey It's Saturday reunion specials, causes international outrage when they appear in blackface parodying the Jackson Five. 1 November – The Seven Network launches a new free-to-air digital channel named 7Two. 22 November – Stan Walker wins the grand final of Australian Idol 2009.'Stan-tastic' Walker wins Australian Idol https://web.archive.org/web/20091228125535/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/22/2750074.htm?section=australia 28 December 2009 , ABC News (Australia), 22 November 2009. 4 December – The Australian Broadcasting Corporation launches ABC3, a digital television channel aimed at children. Sport 7 January – Australia defeats South Africa by 103 runs in the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.South Africa in Australia Test Series – 3rd Test https://web.archive.org/web/20090209122907/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausvrsa2008_09/engine/current/match/351683.html 9 February 2009 , Cricinfo, 7 January 2009. 11 January – Australia defeats South Africa by 52 runs in the first Twenty20 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.South Africa in Australia Twenty20 International Series – 1st T20I https://web.archive.org/web/20090209122907/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausvrsa2008_09/engine/current/match/351683.html 9 February 2009 , Cricinfo, 11 January 2009. 25 January – Melbourne Victory wins the premiership of the A-League 2008–09 season, beating Adelaide United on goals scored, after the two teams were tied on points and goal difference.Melbourne the premier, set for finals https://web.archive.org/web/20090127045809/http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/soccer/strength-in-stability-for-melbourne/2009/01/25/1232818249326.html 27 January 2009 , The Age, 26 January 2009. 31 January – Serena Williams wins the women's singles title at the 2009 Australian Open, defeating Dinara Safina (6–0, 6–3).Niall, Jake: Knockout blow to take the title, and many more https://web.archive.org/web/20090201195606/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/01/31/1232818798096.html 1 February 2009 , The Age, 1 February 2009. 2 February – Rafael Nadal wins the men's singles title at the 2009 Australian Open, defeating Roger Federer in five sets (7–5, 3–6, 7–6(3), 3–6, 6–2).Baum, Greg: Rafa in five sets, just after midnight https://web.archive.org/web/20090203170404/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/02/02/1233423056999.html 3 February 2009 , The Age, 2 February 2009. 3 February – Cricketers Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke are named joint winners of the Allan Border Medal.Saltau, Chloe: Ponting, Clarke share the Border medal https://web.archive.org/web/20090205111448/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/02/03/1233423224077.html 5 February 2009 , The Age, 4 February 2009. 28 February – Melbourne Victory wins the championship of the A-League 2008–09 season, defeating Adelaide United 1–0 in the Grand Final at Telstra Dome. 1 March – Noriyuki Haga and Ben Spies win the two races of the Australian Superbike Grand Prix held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.worldsbk.com https://web.archive.org/web/20090304080356/http://sbk.perugiatiming.com/pdf_frame.asp?p_S_Campionato=SBK&p_Anno=2009&p_Manifestazione=1 4 March 2009 , 1 March 2009. 1 March – 2008 NRL premiers the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles defeat Super League XIII champions the Leeds Rhinos 28–20 in the 2009 World Club Challenge. 14 March – Hazem El Masri of the Bulldogs becomes the highest point scorer in the NRL, surpassing Andrew Johns. 29 March – British driver Jenson Button wins from pole position at the 2009 Australian Grand Prix.Silkstone, Dan: Button wins but it could have been his undoing https://web.archive.org/web/20090401150232/http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/motorsport/grand-prix/button-wins-but-it-could-have-been-his-undoing/2009/03/29/1238261445247.html 1 April 2009 , The Age, 30 March 2009. 7 May – Racing Victoria suspends jumps racing in Victoria following the deaths of three horses over two days at a racing carnival in Warrnambool.Reed Ron 'Bool party loses its splash 8 May 2009 Herald Sun http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25446905-5006021,00.htmlOctober 2026 medicmedic 7 June – The Socceroos draw (0–0) against Qatar in an away match at Doha, qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.Lynch, Michael: Mission accomplished https://web.archive.org/web/20240714075907/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/mission-accomplished-20090608-ge7x26.html 14 July 2024 , The Age, 8 June 2009. 30 June – Hazem El Masri announces his retirement from the NRL, taking effect at the end of the 2009 season.http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25709873-5001021,00.html Hazem El Masri confirms his retirement The Daily Telegraph 3 July 2009 3 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090703061911/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25709873-5001021,00.html dead 11 July – Fremantle kick only 1.7 (13) against Adelaide at Football Park. This constitutes: the first score of fewer than three goals since 1991 the lowest AFL/VFL score since Richmond kicked 0.8 (8) against St Kilda in 1961 12 July – Mark Webber wins his first Formula One Grand Prix at the 2009 German Grand Prix in his eighth year in Formula One. He was the first Australian to win a Grand Prix since 1981. Webber also set a new record for most Formula One race starts prior to his first win, at 130. 31 July – Ricky Ponting became the highest Australian aggregate run-scorer in Test cricket, surpassing Allan Border's total of 11,174 during the third Test of the 2009 Ashes at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/417308.html From Charles Bannerman to Ricky Ponting 5 August 2009 6 August 2009 7 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090807021819/http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/417308.html live 23 August – The Australian cricket team loses The Ashes cricket series, 2 Tests to 1 in England. Australia drop from the first-ranked Test team to behind South Africa, Sri Lanka and India.http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/08/23/1251001836860.html Farewell to all that: Australia say goodbye to Ashes and top ranking Pandaram Jamie 24 August 2009 The Age 23 August 2009 Melbourne https://web.archive.org/web/20091002124157/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/08/23/1251001836860.html 2 October 2009 live 6 September – Finnish driver Mikko Hirvonen and his co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen driving a Ford Focus win Rally Australia, the first to be held at its new venue on the northern coast of New South Wales. 6 September – The St. George Illawarra Dragons win the minor premiership following the final main round of the 2009 NRL season. The win is their first as a merged club and the Dragons' first since 1985. The Sydney Roosters finish in last position, claiming their first wooden spoon since 1966. 21 September – Gary Ablett, Jr. of the Geelong Football Club wins the 2009 Brownlow Medal.Gleeson, Michael (22 September 2009) Ablett wins the Brownlow https://web.archive.org/web/20240714075907/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/ablett-wins-the-brownlow-20090922-ge83wg.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 14 July 2024 ; The Age 26 September – Geelong wins the 2009 AFL Grand Final, beating St Kilda 12.8 (80) to 9.14 (68).Cats crowned 2009 AFL premiers https://web.archive.org/web/20090927144326/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/26/2697432.htm 27 September 2009 , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 26 September 2009. 4 October – The Melbourne Storm become premiers of the National Rugby League season 2009, defeating the Parramatta Eels 23–16 at ANZ Stadium,http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/melbourne-storm-take-handy-lead-to-sheds/story-e6frf9if-1225782644921 Melbourne Storm wins NRL grand final 23–16 over Parramatta Eels Gould Russell 4 October 2009 Herald Sun 4 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091014170604/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/melbourne-storm-take-handy-lead-to-sheds/story-e6frf9if-1225782644921 14 October 2009 dead although they would be subsequently stripped of this award, leaving the position of premiership winners vacant.http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/melbourne-storm-stripped-of-everything-20100422-tfy6.html?autostart=1 Melbourne Storm stripped of everything Munro Ian 23 April 2010 The Age 22 June 2011 Melbourne 25 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100425154609/http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/melbourne-storm-stripped-of-everything-20100422-tfy6.html?autostart=1 live 11 October – Garth Tander and Will Davison win the 2009 Bathurst 1000 for the Holden Racing Team, finishing just 0.8 seconds ahead of Brad Jones Racing pairing of Jason Richards and Cameron McConville. It was Tander's second win at the Bathurst 1000, Davison's first and HRT's sixth. 24 October – So You Think ridden by Glen Boss wins the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. 3 November – Shocking wins the 2009 Melbourne Cup.Shocking wins Melbourne Cup https://web.archive.org/web/20091104215452/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/03/2732065.htm 4 November 2009 , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 3 November 2009. 21 December – Television ratings show that rugby league was the most watched sport on Australian television in 2009. Newstalk ZB League becomes Australia's top sport TVNZ New Zealand Television New Zealand Limited 21 December 2009 http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/league-becomes-australia-s-top-sport-3315931 24 December 2009 24 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091224023018/http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/league-becomes-australia-s-top-sport-3315931 live 28 December – Alfa Romeo II takes line honours in the 2009 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.Alfa ends Wild Oats' Sydney-Hobart reign https://web.archive.org/web/20091231024539/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/28/2781785.htm 31 December 2009 , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 28 December 2009. Births 25 May - Jariyah Shah, Vietnamese footballer 27 July - Zubayr Rafiz, Malaysian footballer Deaths 3 January – John Grindrod, 89, Anglican Primate of Australia (1982–1989) and Archbishop of Brisbane (1980–1989) 8 January – Deborah Riedel, 50, operatic soprano 13 January – Nancy-Bird Walton, 93, aviation pioneer 18 January – Luke Borusiewicz, 2, murder victim (born 2006) 21 January – Ernie Bourne, 82, actor 21 January – Pat Crawford, 75, Test cricketer 31 January – Sir John Fuller, 91, NSW government minister 1 February – Anna Donald, 42, epidemiologist 1 February – Peter Howson, 89, politician 7 February – Reg Evans, 80, actor 7 February – Brian Naylor, 78, newsreader 8 February – Neil McNeill, 87, politician 11 February – Penny Ramsey, actress 13 February – Julius Patching, 92, Olympic administrator 19 February – Colin Rattray, 77, Tasmanian politician 20 February – Fine Cotton, 31, racehorse 23 February – Frank Gallacher, 65, actor 23 March – Peter Wherrett, 72, motoring journalist 24 March – Laurie Short, 93, trade union leader 1 April – Margreta Elkins, 78, mezzo-soprano opera singer 5 April – George Tribe, 88, Test cricketer 6 April – Shawn Mackay, 26, rugby union footballer (died in South Africa) 7 April – Jobie Dajka, 27, track cyclist 8 April – James Allen Keast, 86, ornithologist (died in Canada) 11 April – Rob Dickson, 45, film-maker and Australian rules footballer (died in South Africa) 13 April – John Armitage, 88, politician 13 April – Frank Costigan, 78, lawyer and royal commissioner 14 April – Max Lake, 84, winemaker and surgeon 14 April – Sir Marcus Loane, 97, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Primate of Australia 24 April – Michael Parsons, 48, Australian rules footballer 28 April – Richard Pratt, 74, businessman 1 May – George Hannan, 98, politician 1 May – Sunline, 13, racehorse 13 May – Don Cordner, 87, Australian rules footballer 15 May – Bud Tingwell, 86, actor 17 May – Dame Patricia Mackinnon, 97, President of the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne 18 May – Jerzy Zubrzycki, 89, sociologist 20 May – Paul Vinar, 69, Australian rules footballer 27 May – William Refshauge, 96, soldier and public health administrator 4 June – Chris O'Brien, 57, oncologist and surgeon 19 June – Stan Sismey, 92, cricketer 3 July – Victor Smorgon, 96, industrialist 3 July – Frank Devine, 77, newspaper editor 8 July – Edward Kenna, 90, recipient of the Victoria Cross 11 July – Robert 'Dolly' Dunn, 68(?), convicted sex offender 6 August – Sam, koala made famous in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires 7 August – John Harber Phillips, 75, Chief Justice of Victoria (1991–2003) 21 August – Dean Turner, 37, bass player in rock group Magic Dirt. 29 August – Frank Gardner, 78, racing driver and driving safety advocate 8 September – Ray Barrett, 82, actor 14 September – Mike Leyland, 68, one of the Leyland Brothers 17 September – Virginia Chadwick, 64, politician 20 September – Ken Hough, 80, Australian-born New Zealand cricket and football international 22 September – Bruce McPhee, 82, racing driver and Bathurst winner 27 September – John Youl, 77, racing driver and prominent grazier 2 October – Jack Evans, 80, former Senator 6 October – Jimmy Bates, 99, oldest living VFL/AFL footballer (Essendon) 8 October – Gordon Boyd, 86, television personality 13 October – Leo Williams, 68, rugby union official 14 October – Fred Cress, 71, artist 22 October – Don Lane, 75, television presenter and entertainer 22 October – Paul Andrews, 53, West Australian politician 27 October – Alex Harris, 34, paralympic swimmer 9 November – Clen Denning, 98, oldest living VFL/AFL footballer (Carlton, Fitzroy) 16 November – Jack Wong Sue, 84, RAAF officer and war hero 19 November – Pat Mackie, 95, miner and trade unionist 23 November – Richard Meale, 77, composer 30 November – Brent Green, 33, Australian rules footballer 13 December – Mervyn Lee, 89, politician 14 December – Jack Denham, 85, horse trainer 22 December – Mick Cocks, rock guitarist (Rose Tattoo) 30 December – Rowland S. Howard, musician (The Birthday Party) See also Australia 2009 in Australian literature 2009 in Australian television 2009 in Australian subscription television 2009 in Australian FTA television List of Australian films of 2009 References 2009 in yes Category:Years of the 21st century in Australia