1996 in Australia
Categories: 1996 | Years in Australia
See also: 1995 in Australia, other events of 1996, 1997 in Australia
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Contents |
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Incumbents
- Prime Minister - Paul Keating, then John Howard
- Governor General - Bill Hayden, then Sir William Deane.
- Premier of New South Wales - Bob Carr
- Premier of South Australia - Dean Brown, then John Olsen
- Premier of Queensland - Wayne Goss, then Rob Borbidge.
- Premier of Tasmania - Ray Groom, then Tony Rundle
- Premier of Western Australia - Richard Court
- Premier of Victoria - Jeff Kennett
- Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory - Kate Carnell.
- Chief Minister of the Northern Territory - Shane Stone
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Events
- February 19 - Rob Borbidge becomes Premier of Queensland after winning a by-election from the Labor Party & winning the support of Independent MP Liz Cunningham.
- February 24 - The Liberal Party government of Ray Groom is re-elected in Tasmania. Tony Rundle becomes the new Premier on March 18.
- March 2 - The Liberal/National coalition scores a comfortable win in the federal election & John Howard becomes Australia's 25th Prime Minister on March 11. ousting the ALP government of Paul Keating that had been in power since 1983.
- March 30 - The state election in Victoria re-elects the Liberal/National coalition government of Jeff Kennett for a second term.
- April 28 - Port Arthur massacre: Martin Bryant kills 35 people in a shooting spree at the Port Arthur historic site in Tasmania. Bryant is captured the next day after an 18-hour standoff & is later sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
- May 10 - The Prime Minister announces new gun control measures, which involve the banning of self-loading rifles & shotguns & pump-action shotguns & tigtening of other gun laws.
- May - Floods in southern Queensland & northern New South Wales kill 5 people & causes more than $55 million in farm losses.
- June 12 - Two Blackhawk Helicopters collide near Townsville, killing 18 people.
- July 1 - The Northern Territory legalises voluntary euthanasia. It would be repealed by a conscience vote in the federal Parliament in 1997.
- August 6 - Australian census
- November 19 - U.S President Bill Clinton makes a visit to Australia in which he addresses both Houses of Parliament.
- November 28 - Dean Brown is ousted in a party-room ballot as Premier of South Australia by John Olsen.
- December 14 - The Liberal/National coalition government of Richard Court is reelected in Western Australia.
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Arts and literature
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Film
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Television
- Australian television celebrates its 40th birthday with celebrations lasting throughout the year. The actual birthday was on September 16.
- August - After a court battle, the first series of Friends screens on the Seven Network, almost two years after it premiered in the US. Subsequent series are screened on the Nine Network.
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Sport
- February 23 - Super League's challenge to club loyalty contracts signed with the ARL is ruled out of order & orders banning Super League until 2000 are made.
- March 10 - The first Australian Grand Prix to be held at the Albert Park grand prix circuit takes place. Damon Hill, of the Williams team wins.
- March 17 - Sri Lanka win the Cricket World Cup, defeating Australia in the final.
- March 22 - Clubs aligned with Super League forfeit opening round of matches in the ARL competition.
- May 18 - The Fitzroy Lions (16.11.107) defeat the Fremantle Dockers (10.16.76) at the Whitten Oval in what would be Fitzroy's final ever victory as a stand-alone club.
- June 8 - About 2/3rds of the way into the 3rd quarter of the match between Essendon & the St Kilda Saints at Waverley Park, the ground lighting fails. The remainder of the game is played the following Tuesday, Essendon won, 13.11.89 to 9.13.67.
- July 4 - The AFL teams endorse a merger between the Fitzroy Lions & the Brisbane Bears.
- August 17 - Fitzroy & Brisbane play each other for the last time before merging. At Optus Oval, Brisbane win 29.13.187 to 14.16.100.
- August 25 - Fitzroy play their last game in Melbourne, against the Richmond Tigers at the MCG Richmond win, 28.19.187 to 5.6.36.
- September 1 - Fitzroy play their last ever game of Australian Rules Football as a stand-alone entity. Against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval, Fremantle win, 24.13.157 to 10.11.71.
- September 21 - Tony Lockett kicks a memorable behind to ensure the Swans (10.10.70) defeat the Essendon Bombers (10.9.69) & thus qualify for Sydney's first grand final appearance since 1945.
- September 28 - The North Melbourne Kangaroos (19.17.131) defeat the Sydney Swans (13.10.88) to win the 100th VFL/AFL premiership. It is the Kangaroos third premiership.
- September 29 - The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles defeat the St. George Dragons 20-8 to win the 89th NSWRL/ARL premiership.
- October 4 - The full bench of the Federal Court overturn the earlier decision to ban Super League, meaning the competition can start in 1997.
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Births
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