2008 in Australia explained
The following lists events that happened during 2008 in Australia.
Incumbents
State and territory leaders
Governors and administrators
Events
Entire year
January
February
March
- 12 March – Adelaide experiences a national record heat wave for an Australian capital city, recording over ten straight days of temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius.[12]
- 14 March – Former New South Wales government minister Milton Orkopoulos is found guilty of 28 charges of child sex offences and the supply of drugs.[13]
- 16 March – The South Australian heat wave continues with Adelaide experiencing its 14th straight day of temperatures above 35 degrees.
- 16 March – The Finding Sydney Foundation announces it has located the wrecks of the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney and the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran, which both sunk after a battle in 1941.[14]
- 26 March – At the Council of Australian Governments meeting, the Victorian government agrees to take part in a A$10 billion rescue plan for the Murray-Darling Basin, after 15 months of negotiations.[15]
- 27 March – The Opes Prime stockbroking firm collapses, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission announces it is conducting an investigation into the firm's activities.[16]
- 28 March – Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited closes its Clovelly Park manufacturing facility, ending more than 40 years of manufacturing at the site.[17]
- 30 March – The extension of daylight saving time by a week to standardise time in New South Wales, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and South Australia causes a "mini-Y2K problem" as computer systems, mobile phones and even the "time man" incorrectly adjust the time back one hour.[18]
- 30 March – The gag order applied to David Hicks by the Guantanamo military commission is lifted, allowing him to discuss his detainment at Guantanamo Bay detention camp.[19]
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
- 15 December – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announces that Australia will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by five per cent of 2000 levels by the year 2020, with an option to reduce by 15 per cent if other developing countries take similar action. The announcement is criticised by the Australian Greens and environmental groups as not going far enough.[39]
Arts and literature
See main article: 2008 in Australian literature.
Arts and literature award winners
Science and technology
Film
Television
See main article: 2008 in Australian television.
- 5 January – Fox Sports commentator, Clinton Grybas, dies at 32 as a result of falling whilst sleepwalking.
- 14 January – Nine Network revamps its logo and on-air graphics as a part of a new network re-launch, and after a two-year absence, returns the famous "Nine Balls" logo, except instead of balls, they use discs.
- 7 February – Veteran television presenter Ray Martin quits the Nine Network after 30 years with the network.[49]
- 8 February – At 12:00 PM AEDT ABC TV officially became ABC1.[50]
- 8 February – Former The Great Outdoors host Shelley Craft quits Channel Seven and moves to Channel Nine to take over from Toni Pearen as host of Australia's Funniest Home Videos.
- 12 February – The Supreme Court of Victoria places an injunction on the broadcast and exhibition of the Nine Network's drama series Underbelly in Victoria, following concerns that the series, which depicts Melbourne's gangland wars, could prejudice an ongoing murder trial.[51]
- 14 March – A Current Affair broadcasts its 5000th episode and celebrates its 20th anniversary.
- 17 March – The Nine Network launches its high-definition television channel, Nine HD.
- 3 April – Kate Ritchie (Sally Fletcher), one of the original cast members of Home and Away, leaves the series after 20 years.
- 7 April – The Nine Network makes the first episodes of the new series Canal Road available for download over the Internet, ahead of its television broadcast on 16 April.[52]
- 27 April – Jack Chambers wins the first series of So You Think You Can Dance Australia.[53]
- 4 May – The 2008 Logie Awards are held. Kate Ritchie (formerly of Home and Away) wins the Gold Logie for the second year in a row.[54]
- 7 May – SBS TV reveals its new logo.
- 26 May – Game show Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune, a revival of the Wheel of Fortune format, premieres on the Nine Network.
- 2 June – The Seven Network apologises after airing an episode of the hospital drama All Saints in which it is suggested that a child born of an incestuous relationship is likely to result in the child having Down's syndrome.[55]
- 27 June – Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune is cancelled on the Nine Network after a month.
- 7 July – Seven Network starts broadcasting its watermark on all news and current affairs programs.
- 21 July – The final episode of Big Brother Australia, which was axed by Network Ten the week prior, goes to air. The winner of the final series is 52-year-old grandmother Terri Munro.[56]
- 25 July – The Nine Network's Nightline news program is broadcast for the last time after 16 years on air.
- 26 July – Peter Cundall's last appearance on ABC1's Gardening Australia before retiring from Australian Landscapes.[57]
- 28 July – TV journalist, This Is Your Life host and also a former host of A Current Affair, Mike Munro announces he is leaving the Nine Network after 22 years, due to budget cuts.
- 3 August – The Nine Network's Sunday program is broadcast for the last time after 27 years on air.
- 28 August – Australia's Naughtiest Home Videos, an adult-oriented spin-off of Australia's Funniest Home Videos is revived on the Nine Network. The program made headlines in 1992 when then-CEO Kerry Packer ordered it to be taken off-air in the middle of one episode.
Sport
- 6 January – Australia retains the Border-Gavaskar Trophy when it beats India by 122 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground, equalling its own record of 16 consecutive Test cricket victories.[58]
- 7 January – The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspends India's cricket tour of Australia after objecting to a three-match ban on Harbhajan Singh for allegedly calling Australian player Andrew Symonds a "big monkey".[59] The tour suspension is lifted on 9 January after umpire Steve Bucknor is removed from the third test.
- 20 January – Central Coast Mariners FC claim the premiership for the A-League 2007–08 season.
- 14 to 27 January – The 2008 Australian Open Tennis Championships are held at Melbourne Park. Serbian Novak Djokovic wins the men's singles, the first Grand Slam title since the 2005 Australian Open not won by Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal. He is also the youngest player to win the Australian Open, and the first Serb. Russian Maria Sharapova wins the women's singles title.[60]
- 6 February – Australia defeats Qatar 3–0 in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match at Telstra Dome in Melbourne.[61]
- 24 February – Newcastle United Jets FC defeat Central Coast Mariners FC 1–0 in the A-League Grand Final 2008, becoming champions of the 2007–08 season.[62]
- 29 February – 2007 NRL premiers the Melbourne Storm are defeated by Super League XII champions the Leeds Rhinos 11–4 in the 2008 World Club Challenge.
- 2 March – Australian rider Troy Bayliss wins both races at the Australian Superbike World Championship round.
- 12 March – The Football Federation Australia postpones the expansion of the A-League to include new clubs Gold Coast Galaxy FC and North Queensland Thunder FC until at least the 2009–10 season.[63]
- 16 March – British driver Lewis Hamilton wins the 2008 Australian Grand Prix.[64]
- 22 March – Swimmer Stephanie Rice breaks the 400 metres medley world record.
- 25 March – Stephanie Rice breaks the 200 metres medley world record.
- 26 March – Australia draws with China 0–0 in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match at Tuodong Stadium in Kunming, China.[65]
- 1 June – Australia defeats Iraq 1–0 in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland.[66]
- 2 July – Queensland defeats New South Wales by 16–10 in the third game of the 2008 Rugby League State of Origin series, thereby winning their third consecutive series by two games to one.[67]
- 8 to 24 August – Australia competes in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The Australian Olympic team wins 14 gold medals, coming 6th on the medal tally.
- 7 September – The Melbourne Storm win their third straight minor premiership following the final main round of the 2008 NRL season. Like the previous two years, the win would later be revoked in 2010 following the club's salary cap breach. The Canterbury Bulldogs finish in last position, claiming the wooden spoon.
- 13 September – The New Zealand All Blacks win the 2008 Tri Nations Series in rugby union.
- 22 September – The Western Bulldogs' Adam Cooney wins the 2008 Brownlow Medal for best and fairest player in the Australian Football League.[68]
- 27 September – Hawthorn become premiers of the 2008 AFL season, defeating Geelong 18.7 (115) to 11.23 (89) in the 2008 AFL Grand Final.[69]
- 5 October – The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles become premiers of the National Rugby League season 2008, defeating minor premiers the Melbourne Storm 40–0 at ANZ Stadium.
- 5 October – Australian Ducati Corse rider Casey Stoner wins his second successive Australian motorcycle Grand Prix. Stoner wins by 6.5 seconds over Yamaha Motor Racing rider Valentino Rossi.
- 12 October – Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup win their third successive Bathurst 1000 at the 2008 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
- 25 October – Maldivian wins the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, defeating Zipping and Samantha Miss.
- 25 October to 22 November – The 2008 Rugby League World Cup is held in Australia. New Zealand wins the cup, defeating Australia 34 – 20 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.[70]
- 26 October – Ryan Briscoe takes his Team Penske run Dallara IR5 to victory in the 2008 Nikon Indy 300, becoming in the last running of the event, the first Australian driver to win the Gold Coast Indycar race.
- 4 November – Viewed wins the 2008 Melbourne Cup, the twelfth win of the race for trainer Bart Cummings.[71]
- 28 December – The yacht Wild Oats XI claims its fourth consecutive line honours win in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Quest is the race's handicap winner.[72]
Deaths
- 1 January – Ted Baldwin, 85, politician
- 5 January – Clinton Grybas, 32, sports commentator
- 8 January – George T. D. Moore, 84, former jockey and horse trainer
- 9 January – Tim Willoughby, 53, Olympic rower
- 11 January – Nancy Phelan, 94, writer
- 12 January – Isobel Bennett, 98, marine biologist
- 19 January – Creighton Burns, 82, editor of The Age newspaper (1981–1989)
- 22 January – Heath Ledger, 28, actor (died in New York City)
- 25 January – Roc Kirby, 89, founder of Village Roadshow Limited
- 26 January – Padraic McGuinness, 69, journalist
- 3 February – Jackie Orszaczky, 59, Hungarian-born musician and record producer
- 14 February – Smoky Dawson, 94, country music performer
- 19 February – Peter Pianto, 78, VFL player and coach for Geelong
- 21 February – Geoff Leek, 76, VFL player for Essendon
- 25 February – Ashley Cooper, 27, V8 Supercar race driver
- 28 February – Val Plumwood, 67, ecologist and feminist
- 1 March – Sid Spindler, 76, Democrats senator
- 3 March – Norm O'Neill, 71, cricketer
- 14 March – Clyde Cameron, 95, Whitlam government minister
- 16 March – Bill Brown, 95, cricketer and member of the 1948 Invincibles
- 19 March – John Dowie, 93, sculptor
- 1 April – Audrey Cahn, 102, nutritionist
- 6 April – Tony Davies, 68, New Zealand rugby union player
- 7 April – Sir Frank Little, 82, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne
- 8 April – John Button, 74, ALP senator and Hawke government minister
- 10 April – Kim Santow, 67, NSW Supreme Court judge, university chancellor
- 24 April – Tristram Cary, 82, British composer
- 30 April – John Cargher, 89, ABC Radio presenter
- 9 May – Jack Gibson, 79, rugby league coach and player
- 10 May – Jessie Jacobs, 17, actress (The Saddle Club)
- 22 May – Charlie Booth, 104, athlete and inventor of the starting block
- 26 May – Alan Renouf, 89, head of DFAT and ambassador
- 27 May – Mick Nolan, 58, Australian rules footballer.
- 3 June – Trevor Kaine, 80, Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory (1989–1991)
- 11 June – Sir Francis Hassett, 90, soldier and head of the Australian Defence Force
- 22 June – Jane McGrath, 42, cancer support campaigner and wife of cricketer Glenn McGrath
- 25 June – Lyall Watson, 69, South African botanist and author
- 6 July – Jack Collins, 78, Australian rules footballer (Footscray)
- 7 July – Yitzchok Dovid Groner, 83, chief rabbi of Melbourne's Chabad-Lubavitch community
- 12 July – Olive Riley, 108, believed to have been the world's oldest blogger
- 13 July – Peter Durack, 81, Liberal Party senator and Fraser government minister
- 16 July – Lindsay Thompson, 84, Premier of Victoria (1981–1982)
- 18 July – Peter Welsh, 54, Australian rules footballer
- 25 July – Jeff Fehring, 52, Australian rules footballer
- 5 August – Reg Lindsay, 79, country music singer
- 12 August – Christie Allen, 53, pop music singer
- 28 August – Mark Priestley, 32, television actor (All Saints)
- 1 September – Michael Pate, 88, actor and writer
- 1 September – Kevin Heinze, 81, ABC television and radio presenter
- 4 September – Colin Egar, 80, cricket umpire and administrator
- 12 September – Bob Quinn, 88, SANFL footballer
- 23 September – Peter Leonard, 66, journalist and television presenter
- 24 September – Sir Peter Derham, 83, businessman and philanthropist
- 25 September – Roger Vanderfield, 80, rugby union referee and administrator
- 2 October – Rob Guest, 58, stage actor and singer
- 4 October – Levi Kereama, 27, R&B Singer
- 27 November – Paul Hibbert, 56, cricketer
- 2 December – Frank Crean, 92, Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer in the Whitlam government
- 6 December – Richard Marsland, 32, actor, comedian and radio announcer
- 8 December – Kerryn McCann, 41, athlete
- 10 December – Dorothy Porter, 54, poet
- 29 December – William Ellis Green, 85, cartoonist
See also
Notes and References
- http://www.scouts.com.au/main.asp?iStoryID=12600854 2008 – Year of the Scout
- http://education.qld.gov.au/news/btsmedia/pdf/b2s-08-year-of-physical-activity.pdf
- http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/historic-flight-lands-in-antarctica/2008/01/11/1199988538801.html Historic flight lands in Antarctica
- Darby, Andrew: Whale activists 'captured', The Age, 16 January 2008.
- http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,323115,00.html Police Use Pepper Spray on Fans at Australian Open After Racial Slur Allegations
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/17/2140664.htm Winery owner killed in blast
- http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=371078 ACP Magazines announces closure of The Bulletin magazine
- Shanahan, Leo: Paddling protesters challenge dredger, The Age, 8 February 2008.
- News: A historic first: traditional Indigenous welcome begins Parliament. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 August 2018. 12 February 2008. 21 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180821071241/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/02/12/2160380.htm. live.
- News: Rudd: We say sorry . ABC . ABC News Online . 13 February 2008 . 2008-02-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20080220013244/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/13/2161227.htm. 20 February 2008 . live.
- News: Cardboard Rudd sparks uproar in Parliament . ABC . ABC News Online . 22 February 2008 . 2008-02-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20080225054500/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/22/2169665.htm. 25 February 2008 . live.
- http://www.skynews.com.au/news/article.aspx?id=222539 Record heatwave in SA
- Dart, Jonathan: Orkopoulos found guilty, The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 March 2008.
- http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/hmas-sydney-located/2008/03/17/1205602232577.htmlHMAS Sydney located: report
- http://www.theage.com.au/news/environment/1bn-murray-river-deal-finally-done/2008/03/26/1206207209411.html $1bn Murray breakthrough
- http://abc.com.au/news/stories/2008/03/31/2203813.htm Authorities probe Opes Prime collapse
- http://au.news.yahoo.com/080204/2/15qby.html Mitsubishi to close SA plant in March
- Schneiders, Ben: At the third stroke it will be one hour ago, The Age, 31 March 2008.
- http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/david-hicks-free-to-talk/2008/03/30/1206815301644.html David Hicks free to talk
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/30/2231645.htm Melbourne taxi drivers end blockade
- http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/five-killed-as-sydney-harbour-runabout-hits-fishing-boat-photo-peter-rae/2008/05/01/1209234987504.html Five killed in late-night Sydney Harbour boat crash
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/17/2247878.htm Mokbel lands in Melbourne
- Web site: Q&A Case Study | Youth Engagement. 9 July 2018. 9 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180709114447/http://www.youthengagement.com.au/traditional-media-engagement/qa-case-study/. live.
- Kevin Morgan (2012) Gun Alley: Murder, Lies and Failure of Justice (2nd Ed., updated). Hardie Grant Books (Australia) Melbourne.
- Darby, Andrew: Tasmanian premier Lennon announces resignation, The Age, 26 May 2008.
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/27/2257402.htm Camden Council opposes Islamic school development
- http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL0164801020080601 Australia withdraws troops from Iraq
- http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=76927 Gas plant explosion exposes State's vulnerability
- News: Club offers apology after NSW MP flags legal action. 8 June 2008. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2008-06-19. 11 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080611055423/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/apology-for-della-bosca/2008/06/08/1212863429807.html. live.
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/26/2286816.htm?section=australia Rudd thanks 'passionate, colourful' Democrats
- http://www.smh.com.au/news/iphone-insider/hardcore-apple-fans-get-their-fix/2008/07/12/1215658213674.html Hard-core Apple fans get their fix
- http://www.itv.com/News/Articles/Pope-arrives-in-Australia-572157246.html Pope arrives in Australia
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/29/2317303.htm Sweeping changes to mandatory detention announced
- http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/worlds-biggest-ecstasy-bust/2008/08/08/1218139079745.html World's biggest ecstasy bust
- http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24343802-5006789,00.html Labor's clean sweep broken
- http://www.theage.com.au/national/malcolm-turnbull-wins-liberal-leadership-20080916-4hcr.html Malcolm Turnbull wins Liberal leadership
- Grattan, Michelle: Rudd pressed on Bush call,The Age, 11 November 2008.
- Web site: SEQ Severe Thunderstorm and Microburst at The Gap . https://web.archive.org/web/20090514111558/http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/qld/cyclone/thunderstorms/16Nov2008/qldth20081116.shtml . 14 May 2009 . dead . 2009-09-28 . dmy-all .
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/15/2446466.htm Rudd locks in 5pc emissions cut
- http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/03/07/1204780034685.html Del Kathryn Barton wins Archibald
- http://www.theage.com.au/news/books/australian-author-wins-astrid-lindgren-prize/2008/03/13/1205126059159.html Australian author wins Astrid Lindgren prize
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/23/2253293.htm?section=entertainment Police quiz photographer over nude shots
- Web site: Steger. Jason. Third book is a charm for author. The Age. 20 June 2008. 23 September 2008. 19 November 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081119012343/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bbooksb-tale-of-70s-melbourne-wins-miles-franklin-award/2008/06/19/1213770827149.html. live.
- Web site: The 2008 winners. 23 September 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081121181319/http://www.arts.gov.au/books/pmliteraryawards/2008_winners . 21 November 2008 ., Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/19/2368831.htm?section=entertainment First-time novelist wins Vogel prize
- http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/10/15/1223750076954.html Aravind Adiga wins Booker prize
- http://www.theage.com.au/news/biztech/global-backlash-as-google-launches-street-view/2008/08/05/1217701932020.html Smile Australia, you're on Google's candid camera
- http://www.theage.com.au/news/film/its-an-oscar-for-eva/2008/02/25/1203788246807.html It's an Oscar for Eva
- News: Michael. Idato. Bibby, Paul. Not the retiring type: Martin quits Nine. The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2008. 2008-02-08. 13 April 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080413084321/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/not-the-retiring-type-martin-quits-nine/2008/02/07/1202234065932.html. live.
- Web site: David. Knox. Welcome ABC1..... bye bye ABC TV!. tvtonight.com.au. 8 February 2008. 2008-02-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20080210043946/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2008/02/welcome-abc1-bye-bye-abc-tv.html. 10 February 2008 . dead.
- http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23200542-29277,00.html Underbelly blocked by murder trial judge
- http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23496341-1702,00.html Nine downloads series ahead of TV launch
- Cubby, Ben: Jack the top dancer, The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 April 2008.
- Dubecki, Larissa: 'Home and Away' is far and away viewer favourite, The Age, 5 May 2008.
- Ricketson, Matthew: Seven apologises for incest episode, The Age, 3 June 2008.
- Molloy, Shannon: Big Brother reaches 'ugly' end, Brisbane Times, 21 July 2008.
- http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/blooming-marvellous/2008/07/23/1216492518262.html Blooming marvellous
- http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_CRICKET/idUKSYD7591620080106 Cricket-Australia beat India in thriller to equal world record
- http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/01/07/1199554570945.html Indian tour on hold
- http://news.theage.com.au/new-era-as-djokovic-wins-aussie-open-and-first-grand-slam-title/20080127-1ohk.html New era as Djokovic wins Aussie Open and first Grand Slam title
- Lynch, Michael: Night ends by smashing Qatar, The Age, 7 February 2008.
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/24/2170983.htm?section=sport Jets crowned A-League champions
- http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccer/aleague-expansion-deferred/2008/03/11/1205125912265.html A-League expansion deferred
- http://www.theage.com.au/news/grand-prix/hamilton-survives-the-carnage/2008/03/16/1205602162587.html Hamilton survives the carnage
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/26/2200086.htm Schwarzer's late save secures point for Australia
- http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/06/01/1212258640764.html Kewell stars as Socceroos sink Iraq
- http://blogs.abc.net.au/grandstand/2008/07/maroons-clinch.html?site=rugby_league Maroons clinch Origin three-peat
- Baum, Greg: It's Adam's eve, The Age, 23 September 2008.
- http://www.realfooty.com.au/articles/2008/09/27/1222217571288.html Hawthorn pulls off grand final heist
- http://news.smh.com.au/sport/new-zealand-win-rugby-league-world-cup-20081122-6eig.html New Zealand win Rugby League World Cup
- http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/11/04/1225560843430.html Hail to the king of a dozen bold cups
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/28/2455788.htm Skandia's skipper hails 'great job'