1984 in Australia

none August 2020 February 2012 The following lists events that happened during 1984 in Australia. Elizabeth II Sir Ninian Stephen Bob Hawke 15,393,472 Lowitja O'Donoghue NSW, Federal, Referendum 1984 Incumbents thumb|upright|140px|Sir Ninian Stephen thumb|upright|140px|Bob Hawke Monarch – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Sir Ninian Stephen Prime Minister – Bob Hawke Deputy Prime Minister – Lionel Bowen Opposition Leader – Andrew Peacock Chief Justice – Sir Harry Gibbs State and territory leaders Premier of New South Wales – Neville Wran Opposition Leader – Nick Greiner Premier of Queensland – (Sir) Joh Bjelke-Petersen Opposition Leader – Keith Wright (until 29 August), then Nev Warburton Premier of South Australia – John Bannon Opposition Leader – John Olsen Premier of Tasmania – Robin Gray Opposition Leader – Ken Wriedt Premier of Victoria – John Cain Jr. Opposition Leader – Jeff Kennett Premier of Western Australia – Brian Burke Opposition Leader – Ray O'Connor (until 15 February), then Bill Hassell Chief Minister of the Northern Territory – Paul Everingham (until 15 October), then Ian Tuxworth Opposition Leader – Bob Collins Chief Minister of Norfolk Island – David Buffett Governors and administrators Governor of New South Wales – Sir James Rowland Governor of Queensland – Sir James Ramsay Governor of South Australia – Sir Donald Dunstan Governor of Tasmania – Sir James Plimsoll Governor of Victoria – Sir Brian Murray Governor of Western Australia – Gordon Reid (from 2 July) Administrator of Norfolk Island – Raymond Trebilco Administrator of the Northern Territory – Eric Johnston Events January 17 January – Ian Sinclair is elected leader of the National Party of Australia following Doug Anthony's retirement.Malone Paul 18 January 1988 New leader Sinclair faces questions on credibility https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116385061 The Canberra Times 4 July 2021 18 April 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190418112011/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116385061 live 26 January – Aboriginal leader Lowitja (Lois) O'Donoghue becomes Australian of the Year.Jon Seiben on visit anyway https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122480628 The Canberra Times 28 January 1985 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185225/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122480628 live 27 to 30 January – The final Narara Music Festival on the Central Coast of New South Wales features INXS, Simple Minds, The Pretenders, Talking Heads, Eurythmics and Def Leppard.Dempsey Shelley 30 January 1985 2CC chats with performers at Narara https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116387336 The Canberra Times 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183051/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116387336 liveRain drowns the music, and floods leave festival fans stranded in the mud https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116387452 The Canberra Times 31 January 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182630/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116387452 live February 1 February – Medicare comes into effect in Australia.Teething troubles likely for Labor's newborn Medicare https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116387586 The Canberra Times 1 February 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183710/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116387586 live 2 February – Melbourne newspaper The Age publishes phone taps incriminating an unknown judge.Police to investigate allegations about judge https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116387926 The Canberra Times 3 February 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183521/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116387926 live 14 February – Elton John marries Renate Blauel in Sydney.Miller Julie Rocketman: Elton John’s Forgotten 1984 Wedding to Renate Blauel https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/05/rocketman-movie-elton-john-wife-wedding-renate-blauel Vanity Fair 23 June 2019 en 24 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200924160234/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/05/rocketman-movie-elton-john-wife-wedding-renate-blauel live March 6 March – A bomb blast wrecks the home of Judge Richard Gee in the Sydney suburb of Belrose.Coulthart Ross Investigation exposes the dad accused of an unsolved crime spree that killed four people http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/investigation-exposes-the-dad-accused-of-an-unsolved-crime-spree-that-killed-four-people/story-fni0cwl5-1226675335935?nk=1e099da73acaa0f6cc9f20dc640afc97 8 September 2014 The Sunday Telegraph 7 July 2013 Australia High Court Judge, Justice Lionel Murphy is named in Parliament as the judge referred to in The Age tapes published on 2 February.Malone Paul 7 March 1984 Judge named by Qld minister https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/124994472 The Canberra Times 4 July 2021 14 July 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240714075857/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/124994472 live 24 March – Wran Government re-elected in NSW for a 4th term.Malone Paul 25 March 1984 Labor back, but about 11 seats lost https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/124998794 The Canberra Times 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183218/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/124998794 live 26 March – The $100 note is introduced.New $100 note on Monday https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/124997744 The Canberra Times 21 March 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183141/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/124997744 live April April – A 915g jar of Vegemite is the first product in Australia to be electronically scanned at a checkout.100 Great Icons Sheedy Chris Jenny Bond 2006 Random House Australia Milsons Point, New South Wales 978-1-74166-501-7 34–35 https://books.google.com/books?id=OJgQh7pd8Y4C 21 September 2016 11 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230911220010/https://books.google.com/books?id=OJgQh7pd8Y4C live 19 April – Advance Australia Fair is proclaimed as Australia's national anthem, and green and gold as the national colours.'Advance Australia' national anthem https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125003111 The Canberra Times 12 April 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183120/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125003111 liveGreen and gold our official colours https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125004945 The Canberra Times 20 April 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183038/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125004945 live May 14 May – The $1 coin is introduced in Australia.New, shiny, $1 coin raises some eyebrows https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126995651 The Canberra Times 15 May 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184440/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126995651 live 18 May – In New South Wales gay sex between consenting adult males is decriminalised.NSW Assembly passes homosexuality law reform https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126996052 The Canberra Times 17 May 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183044/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126996052 live Homosexuality Bill passes all stages https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126996580 The Canberra Times 19 May 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182833/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126996580 live July 4 July – Pearl, wife of Justice Ray Watson killed when their home is bombed. It is believed Judge Watson was the target.Family Court judge's wife killed, home damaged https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127212193 The Canberra Times 5 July 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182309/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127212193 live 16 July – Letters Patent issued for the Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in Australia20 November 1985 Report of the Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in Australia https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/publications/tabledpapers/HPP032016010928/upload_pdf/HPP032016010928.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22publications/tabledpapers/HPP032016010928%22 17 January 2021 Australian Parliament House 7 (PDF) 14 July 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240714075845/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/publications/tabledpapers/HPP032016010928/upload_pdf/HPP032016010928.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22publications/tabledpapers/HPP032016010928%22 live 18 July – National Crime Authority is established.Three states to join national crime body https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127211891 The Canberra Times 3 July 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183007/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127211891 liveWaterford Jack 22 July 1984 Top ACT judge enters fray over 'Mr Justice Policeman' https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127215384 The Canberra Times 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184208/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127215384 live August August – Brenda Hodge becomes the last person to be sentenced to death by Western Australia, and in the country as a whole, before the complete abolition of capital punishment. Her sentence is later commuted to life imprisonment. 1 August – Australian banks are deregulated. 7 August – Margaret, 35, and Seana Tapp, 9 are attacked and murdered by an unknown man in their suburban Melbourne home.Mother, daughter killed in beds https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127218988 The Canberra Times 10 August 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184246/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127218988 live Seana is also sexually assaulted.Jolly Nathan 1 December 2019 Why the murders of mother and daughter Margaret and Seana remain unsolved https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/why-the-murders-of-mother-and-daughter-margaret-and-seana-tapp-remain-unsolved/news-story/e119219dfada953cc2c60560123ffc53 news.com.au 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182654/https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/why-the-murders-of-mother-and-daughter-margaret-and-seana-tapp-remain-unsolved/news-story/e119219dfada953cc2c60560123ffc53 live 21 August – The Federal budget is televised for the first time.Morris Joan 19 August 1984 Television history being made https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127220763 The Canberra Times 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183455/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127220763 live September 2 September – 7 people shot dead and 12 wounded in a bikie shootout between rival bikie gangs the Bandidos and Comancheros in the Sydney suburb of Milperra.Seven shot dead at hotel https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136913957 The Canberra Times 3 September 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182349/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136913957 live 5 September – Western Australia becomes the last Australian state to abolish capital punishment for ordinary crimes (i.e. murder). New South Wales maintained it as a punishment for treason and piracy with violence until 1985†, when capital punishment was finally abolished in Australia. October 1 October – National Film and Sound Archive (Screensound Australia) opens in Canberra.Jeffrey Brian 2 October 1984 Archive grew out of concern for film and sound heritage https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136919537 The Canberra Times 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184633/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136919537 live November 6 November – In a crime that shocks the city, Melbourne schoolgirl Kylie Maybury is kidnapped, raped and murdered after being sent on an errand to buy a bag of sugar.Body of girl, 6, found in gutter https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122527072 The Canberra Times 8 November 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183229/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122527072 live 26 November – Former NSW Corrective Services Minister Rex Jackson appears in Court on conspiracy charges for the early release of prisoners.Jackson needed to raise money, Crown alleges https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122530854 The Canberra Times 27 November 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182946/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122530854 live A good performance by Andrew Peacock in the leaders' televised debate boosts his poll ratings.Jones Bruce 26 November 1984 Peacock's 'impressive performance' https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122530771 The Canberra Times 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184514/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122530771 live December 2 December – Hawke Government re-elected with a reduced majority.Malone Paul 2 December 1984 Informal vote takes icing off ALP cake https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122531887 The Canberra Times 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182543/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122531887 live 7 December – Andrew Peacock and John Howard retain their respective positions in the Opposition.Coyle Kerry 8 December 1984 Peacock, Howard returned https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122533104 The Canberra Times 4 July 2021 14 July 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240714075859/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122533104 live Arts and literature 1984 in Australian literature Tim Winton's novel Shallows wins the Miles Franklin Award Franklin award to Winton https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127010139 The Canberra Times 15 May 1985 1 August 2021 Film Annie's Coming Out Razorback Television 30 January – Perfect Match is launched in the 5:30 pm timeslot, bringing in record ratings for that timeslot & ensuring Ten's Eyewitness News won the 6–7 p.m. timeslot. 3 February – Australia's first nationally televised telethon screens on Network Ten. It is a 26-hour effort to raise money for Australia's Olympic athletes. Olympics telethon aims for LA and beyond https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116388053 The Canberra Times 3 February 1984 4 July 2021 11 February – The Nine Network's Hey Hey It's Saturday moves from Saturday mornings to the 9:30 pm timeslot and renamed Hey Hey It's Saturday Night. 26 July – French-American-Canadian animated television series Inspector Gadget begins on ABC. Christopher Skase purchases TVQ-0.Qld TV channel buyer pursuing media interest https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126993525 The Canberra Times 6 May 1984 4 July 2021 25 September 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210925235335/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126993525 live Network Ten televises the 1984 Summer Olympics from Los Angeles. Also, all stations adopt a uniform on-air look for the first time. The first televised federal election debate takes place. Sport VFL 29 September – Essendon (14.21.105) defeat Hawthorn (12.9.81) to win the 88th VFL premiershipWinners at last... https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136919091 The Canberra Times 30 September 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183314/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136919091 live Brownlow Medal awarded to Peter Moore (Melbourne)Melbourne ruckman Peter Moore wins second Brownlow https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136918227 The Canberra Times 25 September 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183357/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136918227 live Rugby league 23 September – Minor premiers Canterbury Bulldogs defeat Parramatta Eels 6–4 to win the 77th NSWRL premiership.Canterbury the best https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136917959 The Canberra Times 24 September 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184748/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136917959 live Western Suburbs Magpies finish in last position, claiming the wooden spoon. Other 25 March – Robert de Castella is Australia's only competitor at the twelfth IAAF World Cross Country Championships, staged in New York, USA. He finishes in 21st place (34:08.0) in the race over 12,086 metres.De Castella confident despite losses https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125001871 7 April 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184554/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125001871 live 10 June – Andrew Lloyd wins the men's national marathon title, clocking 2:14:36 in Sydney, while Mora Main claims the women's title in 2:46:00.https://ausrunning.net/marathon/australian-championship-1984/1 Wang Australian Marathon 1984 results (page 1) ausrunning 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190908/https://ausrunning.net/marathon/australian-championship-1984/1 livehttps://ausrunning.net/marathon/australian-championship-1984/3 Wang Australian Marathon 1984 results (page 3) ausrunning 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184520/https://ausrunning.net/marathon/australian-championship-1984/3 live 6 November – Black Knight wins the Melbourne Cup.The Melbourne Cup in pictures... https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122527191 The Canberra Times 8 November 1984 4 July 2021 9 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183632/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122527191 live Births 1 January – Michael Witt, rugby league player 10 January – Trent Cutler, rugby league player 26 January – Ryan Hoffman, rugby league player 7 March – Jacob Lillyman, rugby league player 22 March – Tara Simmons, musician (died 2019) 30 March – Samantha Stosur, tennis player 3 April – Allana Slater, gymnast 10 April – Peter Veness, journalist (d. 2012) 13 April – Kris Britt, cricketer 20 April – Ashleigh Rudder, synchronised swimmer 26 April – Petrina Price, high jumper 3 May – Jacqui Dunn, artistic gymnastJacqui Dunn http://m2002.thecgf.com/results/default.asp?ath=2133 m2002.thecgf.com 18 January 2021 28 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210128003117/http://m2002.thecgf.com/results/default.asp?ath=2133 dead 4 May – Kiel Brown, field hockey midfielder 10 May – Alana Boyd, pole vaulter 15 May Samantha Noble, actress Beau Scott, Australian rugby league player 31 May – Jason Smith, actor 3 June – Todd Reid, tennis player (died 2018) June 14 – Jay Lyon, actor, musician and model 9 July – Alexandra Croak, gymnast & diver 20 July – James Mackay, actor 24 July – Patrick Harvey, actor 30 July – Trudy McIntosh, artistic gymnastTrudy MCINTOSH - Olympic Gymnastics Artistic Australia https://www.olympic.org/trudy-mcintosh Olympic.org International Olympic Committee en 20 June 2016 23 June 2019 22 June 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190622110826/https://www.olympic.org/trudy-mcintosh live 4 September – Adam Marshall, politician 20 September – Jason Chatfield, artist, comedian 3 October – Jarrod Bannister, athlete (d. 2018)https://www.olympic.org/jarrod-bannister Jarrod Bannister Olympic.org International Olympic Committee 5 October 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161005141232/https://www.olympic.org/jarrod-bannister live 8 October — Laura Wells, International Plus Sized Model and Environmentalist. 17 October – Michelle Ang, actress 30 October – Cameron Ciraldo, rugby league player and coach 9 November – Delta Goodrem, singer and actress 13 November – Jamie Soward, rugby league player 14 November – Courtney Johns, Australian footballer 25 November – Peter Siddle, cricketer 28 November – Andrew Bogut, basketball player 8 December – Tim Paine, cricketer 12 December Sophie Edington, swimmer Daniel Merrett, Australian footballer 25 December – Lisa and Jessica Origliasso, singer/songwriters Deaths 9 January – Bob Dyer, television host (born in the United States) (b. 1909) 21 January – Alan Marshall, writer (b. 1902) 14 February – Kevin Barrett (died 1984), Australian rules footballer (b. 1915) 17 May – Nigel Drury, Queensland politician (b. 1911) 26 May – Hilda Abbott, Red Cross leader and wife of the administrator of the Northern Territory (b. 1890) 19 June – Sir Phillip Lynch, Victorian politician (b. 1933) 21 June – Denis Murphy, Queensland politician (b. 1936) 6 July – Mina Wylie, swimmer (b. 1891) 13 August – Clyde Cook, actor (b. 1891) 29 September – Hal Porter, author and playwright (b. 1911) 6 November – Kylie Maybury, murder victim (b. 1978) 20 December – Grace Cossington Smith, artist (b. 1892) See also 1984 in Australian television List of Australian films of 1984 References 1984 in yes Australia Category:Years of the 20th century in Australia