1990 in Australia

See also:

Incumbents

February 12 - Carmen Lawrence becomes the first female premier of Western Australia and indeed Australia's first female premier after the resignation of Peter Dowding.
March 24- The government of Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke is re-elected for a 4th term.
August 7 - John Cain Resigns as Victorian Premier over a series of financial scandals and is replaced by the first female premier of Victoria, Joan Kirner.
October 5 - After one hundred and fifty years, ten months and two days (Friday, January 3, 1840 - Friday, October 5, 1990), The Herald broadsheet newspaper in Melbourne is published for the last time as a separate newspaper. Founded in 1840 as The Port Phillip Herald, it is merged with its morning tabloid sister paper The Sun News-Pictorial and the first issue of the new Herald Sun, described by owner Rupert Murdoch as "The world's first 24-hour newspaper", with morning and afternoon editions, is published on the 8th
October 5 - On the same day, the afternoon tabloid The Daily Mirror in Sydney is published for the last time as a separate newspaper. The first edition of The Daily Telegraph-Mirror appears on the 8th.
October 27 - Northern Territory elections return Country Liberal Party government of Marshall Perron to power.
November 1 - The Australian domestic avation market is deregulated.
November 29 - Treasurer Paul Keating announces that Australia is experiencing an economic recession.
December 11 - Fairfax is placed in receivership.

July - Kerry Packer purchases back control of the Nine Network for $250 million from Alan Bond, who purchased it from him for $1 billion in 1987.
September - Westpac puts Network Ten into receivership.
December 27 - WIN Television purchases Star Television just 3 days before Queensland is due to be aggregated, giving them the Nine Network affiliation & leaving QTV, who were going to take the Nine affiliation, with the Network Ten affiliation.
December 31 - The Queensland Regional television market is aggregated, with Sunshine Television Network (now Seven Queensland) taking a Seven affiliation, WIN Television taking a Nine affiliation & QTV with the Ten affiliation.
The Seven Network is placed in receivership.

March 20 - The VFL officially becomes known as the AFL.
May 22 - New South Wales (13.8.86) upsets Victoria (10.16.76) in a State of Origin match at the SCG.
July 23 - Players' draft adopted at board meeting of NSWRL.
September 8 - Collingwood draws its elimination final with the West Coast Eagles. The AFL finals schedule is thrown into chaos & the Grand Final had to be played a week later than usual. Extra time is subsequently introduced in future finals matches.
October 6 - Collingwood (13.11.89) defeat Essendon (5.11.41) to win the 94th VFL/AFL premiership. It is the first premiership won under the AFL banner & Collingwood's first premiership since 1958, thereby symbolising the end of the "Colliwobbles".
November 10 - Mal Meninga scores stunning last-minute try to win second Ashes Rugby League test at Old Trafford.