1982 in Australia

1982 in Australia
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	Zelman Cowen, then Ninian Stephen
Prime Minister	Malcolm Fraser
Population	15,184,247
Elections	SA, TAS, VIC

See also:

Years in Australia:	1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985
Centuries:	19th Century · 20th century · 21st century
Decades:	1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s [[{{{dpn}}} (decade)\|2010s]]
Years:	1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985

Incumbents

3 April – After almost 27 years in power, the Liberal/National coalition government is voted out in Victoria & is replaced by the ALP
11 May – High Court upholds the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 in Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen, effectively extending Commonwealth power.
15 May – In the middle of the Franklin Dam dispute, the Labor government of Harry Holgate is voted out in Tasmania & replaced by the Liberal Party, led by Robin Gray.
12 October – Elizabeth II opens the new building of the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.
6 November – Elections in South Australia see the voting out of the Liberal/National coalition, led by David Tonkin & the election of the ALP, led by John Bannon
14 December – The Tasmanian Wilderness Society, led by Bob Brown, stages a blockade of the Franklin Dam site in Tasmania which continues into 1983. On the same day, UNESCO agrees to list the Tasmanian Wild Rivers as a World Heritage Site.
17 December - Random Breath Testing is introduced in NSW

18 January – Sons and Daughters premieres on the Seven Network.
28 June – The Nine Network premieres its new breakfast TV show, National News Today, which is later shortened to Today
Nine, Seven & the ABC conduct stereo test transmissions

The South Melbourne Swans move to Sydney & become the Sydney Swans.
21 March – Robert de Castella represents Australia at the tenth IAAF World Cross Country Championships, staged in Rome, Italy. He finished in tenth place (34:20.5) in the race over 11,978 metres.
28 March – The Newtown Jets & Canterbury Bulldogs fight out the only (to date) scoreless draw in NSWRL first grade history.
24 July – The Sydney Swans (13.12.90) defeat the North Melbourne Kangaroos (8.10.58) to win the VFL night premiership. It is the first major trophy for the Swans since they moved to Sydney.
25 July – Robert Wallace wins the his second men's national marathon title, clocking 2:16:02 in Brisbane, while Barbara McKerrow claims the women's title in 2:50:28.
25 September – Carlton Blues (14.19.103) defeat the Richmond Tigers (12.13.83) to win the 86th VFL premiership. It is the second consecutive premiership for Carlton & the last grand final appearance to date for Richmond.
26 September – Parramatta Eels defeat the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 21-8^ to win the 75th NSWRL premiership. It is their second consecutive premiership.
30 September – 9 October – The 1982 Commonwealth Games are held in Brisbane, Queensland
18 December – The Kangaroos complete a tour of Great Britain & France undefeated for the first time.

^-Scored under outdated scoring system.