2013 in Australia

See also: 2012 in Australia, 2014 in Australia

Incumbents

• Monarch – Queen Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – Quentin Bryce
• Prime Minister – Julia Gillard (until 27 June), then Kevin Rudd (until 18 September), then Tony Abbott

Premiers and Chief Ministers

• Premier of New South Wales – Barry O'Farrell
• Premier of South Australia – Jay Weatherill
• Premier of Queensland – Campbell Newman
• Premier of Tasmania – Lara Giddings
• Premier of Western Australia – Colin Barnett
• Premier of Victoria – Ted Baillieu (until 6 March), then Denis Napthine
• Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory – Katy Gallagher
• Chief Minister of the Northern Territory – Terry Mills (until 14 March), then Adam Giles
• Chief Minister of Norfolk Island – David Buffett (until 20 March), then Lisle Snell

Governors and Administrators

• Governor of New South Wales – Marie Bashir
• Governor of South Australia – Kevin Scarce
• Governor of Queensland – Penelope Wensley
• Governor of Tasmania – Peter Underwood
• Governor of Western Australia – Malcolm McCusker
• Governor of Victoria – Alex Chernov
• Administrator of the Northern Territory – Sally Thomas
• Administrator of Norfolk Island – Neil Pope

Events

January to March

• 4–20 January – A heat wave in south-eastern Australia results in several bushfires in Tasmania.^[1]
• 23 January – A monsoon trough passes over parts of Queensland and New South Wales, causing severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes.^[2]
• 30 January – Prime Minister Julia Gillard announces the date of the 2013 federal election as 14 September.^[3]
• 6 March – Ted Baillieu stands down as Premier of Victoria and is replaced by Denis Napthine.^[4]
• 9 March – The 2013 Western Australian state election is held. The Liberal Party led by Colin Barnett retains government, winning a majority in its own right.^[5]
• 13 March – The Country Liberal Party in the Northern Territory elects Adam Giles as party leader while Terry Mills is overseas on a trade visit to Japan. Giles is sworn in as Chief Minister—Australia's first indigenous head of government—the next day on 14 March.^[6]
• 21 March –
  • Prime Minister Julia Gillard makes a speech apologising on behalf of the federal government to families affected by forced adoption in Australia.^[7]
  • Simon Crean calls on the Prime Minister to bring on a leadership spill to resolve tensions in the Labor Party, which she does. Expected challenger Kevin Rudd announces he will not contest the ballot, and Gillard is re-elected leader unopposed.^[8]
• 30 March – The Murrawarri Republic declares its independence from the Commonwealth of Australia.^[9]

April to June

• 17 April – Australia's greatest racing horse since Phar Lap and one of the greatest mares in world history, Black Caviar is retired on an unbeaten record of 25 wins.
• 26 June – Kevin Rudd defeats Julia Gillard 57 to 45 in an Australian Labor Party leadership spill.^[10]

July to September

• 9 July – Giant telescope Murchison Widefield Array telescope in Western Australia, goes online.
• 23 July – The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation's AUD $630 million New Central Office is opened in Canberra.^[11]
• 3 August – Simon Kruger, a seven-year-old boy, goes missing in the bush after wandering away from a family picnic. He is found by searchers the next day, and claimed that a kangaroo had kept him warm as he slept under a tree.^[12]
• 12 August – The Euahlayi Nation declares its independence from the Commonwealth of Australia.^[13]
• 7 September – The Liberal–National coalition led by Tony Abbott wins the 2013 federal election.^[14]

October to December

• 3–11 October – The International Fleet Review is held on Sydney Harbour to celebrate the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian Navy fleet in to the harbour.^[15]
• 17 October – The 2013 New South Wales bushfires begin.
• 22 October – The Marriage Equality Act 2013 is passed in the Australian Capital Territory, making the ACT the first state or territory to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia.^[16]
• 18 November – Material leaked by NSA contractor Edward Snowden reveals that Australian intelligence agencies had attempted to tap the phones of the President of Indonesia, his wife, and other officials. In response, Indonesia recalls its ambassador, and threatens other consequences.^[17]
• 10 December – The analog television signal is switched off in Victoria, completing Australia's digital television transition.^[18]
• 11 December – Car manufacturer Holden announces it will cease production of vehicles in Australia by 2017.^[19]

Arts and literature

• 22 March – Del Kathryn Barton wins the Archibald Prize for the second time, for her portrait of actor Hugo Weaving.^[20]
• 19 June – Michelle de Kretser wins the Miles Franklin Award for her novel Questions of Travel.^[21]

Sport

• 14–27 January – Tennis: The 2013 Australian Open is held. Victoria Azarenka wins the Women's Singles^[22] and Novak Djokovic wins the Men's Singles.^[23]
• 17 February – Cricket: Australia wins the 2013 Women's Cricket World Cup in India.^[24]
• 17 March – Motor racing: Kimi Räikkönen wins the 2013 Australian Grand Prix.^[25]
• 21 April – Soccer: Central Coast Mariners FC defeat Western Sydney Wanderers FC 2–0 in the 2013 A-League Grand Final.
• 17 July – Rugby league: The Queensland Maroons win the 2013 State of Origin series, the team's eighth consecutive win.^[26]
• 27 August – Australian rules football: The Australian Football League announces sanctions against the Essendon Football Club for the club's supplements controversy including being barred from the finals series, stripped of first and second round draft picks for the next two seasons, a $2 million fine and a one-year suspension of coach James Hird.^[27]
• 23 September – Australian rules football: Gary Ablett, Jr. (Gold Coast) wins his second Brownlow Medal.^[28]
• 28 September – Australian rules football: Hawthorn wins the 2013 AFL Grand Final, defeating Fremantle 11.11 (77) to 8.14 (62) at the MCG.^[29]
• 6 October – Rugby league: The Sydney Roosters defeat the Manly Sea Eagles 26–18 in the 2013 NRL Grand Final.^[30]
• 5 November – Horse racing: Fiorente, ridden by jockey Damien Oliver, wins the 2013 Melbourne Cup.^[31]
• 17 December – Cricket: Australia regains The Ashes for the first time in seven years, after winning the first three tests of the 2013–14 Ashes series.
• 28 December – Yacht raching: Wild Oats XI takes line honours in the 2013 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, the yacht's seventh win.^[32]

Deaths

January

• 2 January – Merv Hunter, 86, politician, New South Wales MLA for Lake Macquarie (1969–1991)
• 6 January – Paul Grundy, 77, civil engineer and academic
• 7 January – Nancy Burley, 82, figure skater
• 12 January – Norma Redpath, 84, artist
• 13 January – Bille Brown, 61, actor and playwright
• 14 January – Fred Flanagan, 88, VFL football player (Geelong), Hall of Fame member (1998)
• 16 January – Sir Barry Holloway, 78, politician, Speaker of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea (1972–1977)
• 18 January –
  • Peter Boyle, 61, footballer and manager
  • Jon Mannah, 23, rugby league player (Cronulla Sharks)
  • Lewis Marnell, 30, skateboarder
• 21 January – David Coe, 58, businessman
• 23 January – Jan Ormerod, 66, illustrator of children's books.
• 24 January – Graeme Fellowes, 78, VFL football player
• 26 January – Patricia Lovell, 83, film producer
• 28 January – Brian Brown, 79, jazz musician.
• 29 January – Ferris Ashton, 86, rugby league player (Eastern Suburbs)

February

• 6 February – Douglas Warren, 93, Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Wilcannia-Forbes (1967–1994)
• 8 February – Jack Dale Mengenen, 78, indigenous artist and painter
• 9 February – Colin Laverty, 75, doctor and art collector
• 11 February –
  • Vi Lloyd, 89, politician, member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (1973–1981).
  • Kevin Peek, 66, musician (Sky)
• 15 February – Bill Morrison, 84, politician, federal MP for St George (1969–1975, 1980–1984), Minister for Defence (1975)
• 22 February – Neil Mann, 88, VFL football player and coach (Collingwood)
• 23 February – Joan Child, 91, politician, MP for Henty (1974–1975, 1980–1990), first female Speaker of House of Representatives (1986–1989)
• 25 February – Ray O'Connor, 86, Premier of Western Australia (1982–1983)
• 26 February – Bert Flugelman, 90, sculptor
• 28 February – Ajax, 42, DJ

March

• 2 March – Peter Harvey, 68, television journalist
• 3 March –
  • Col Firmin, 72, politician
  • James Strong, 68, CEO of Qantas (1993–2001)
• 10 March –
  • Brian Archer, 83, Senator for Tasmania (1975–1994)
  • John Chick, 80, football player (Carlton).
• 13 March – Richard Davey, 74, actor and playwright
• 15 March – Leverne McDonnell, 49, actress
• 21 March –
  • Ernest Chapman, 86, Olympic rower
  • Tyrone Gilks, 19, motorbike stunt rider (born 1993)
  • Max Oldmeadow, 88, politician, MP for Holt (1972–1975)
  • Bruce Skeggs, 81, politician and trotting commentator
• 28 March – Keiran McNamara, 58, environmentalist^[33]
• 31 March – Ernie Bridge, 76, politician, Western Australia MLA for Kimberley (1980–2001)

April

• 2 April –
  • Linda Vogt, 90, flautist
  • Ian Wilson, 80, politician, MP for Sturt (1966–1969; 1972–1993)
• 4 April –
  • Chris Bailey, 62, musician (The Angels)
  • Tommy Tycho, 84, composer, arranger and orchestra conductor
  • Ian Walsh, 80, rugby league player
• 8 April – Peter Reveen, 77, stage hypnotist and illusionist
• 11 April – David O'Halloran, 57, football player (Hawthorn)
• 16 April – Murray Vernon, 76, cricket player (Western Australia)
• 19 April – Bill Knott, 92, politician, member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (1978–1986)
• 21 April –
  • Chrissy Amphlett, 53, musician (Divinyls; died in New York City)
  • William Edward Murray, 93, Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Wollongong (1975–1996)
• 22 April – Carmel Kaine, 75, violinist, co-founder/leader of Academy of St Martin in the Fields
• 25 April – Johnny Lockwood, 92, actor and performer
• 27 April – Joseph Peter O'Connell, 81, Roman Catholic prelate, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne (1976–2006)
• 28 April – Ron Baggott, 96, football player (Melbourne)

May

• 1 May – Gregory Rogers, 55, children's author
• 3 May – Brad Drewett, 54, tennis player and administrator, ATP Executive Chairman (2012–2013)
• 5 May – Greg Quill, 66, roots musician and entertainment critic (Toronto Star)
• 10 May – Barbara Callcott, 66, actress
• 12 May – Doug Beasy, 83, football player (Carlton)
• 13 May – Jill Kitson, 74, radio broadcaster and literary journalist
• 14 May – Joy Baluch, 80, politician, Mayor of Port Augusta (1981–1993, since 1995)
• 15 May –
  • Albert Lance, 87, opera singer
  • Billy Raymond, 75, television presenter and entertainer
• 17 May – Penne Hackforth-Jones, 63, actress
• 23 May –
  • Peter Ellis, 66, football player
  • Hazel Hawke, 83, social activist, former wife of Prime Minister Bob Hawke
  • Gerry Peacocke, 81, politician, NSW MLA for Dubbo (1981–1999)
• 24 May – John Sumner, 88, founder and artistic director of Melbourne Theatre Company

June

• 1 June – Dorothy Napangardi, 60s, indigenous artist
• 2 June – Yunupingu, 56, musician (Yothu Yindi)
• 7 June – Harvey Dunn, Jr., 81, football player (Carlton).
• 9 June – Christopher Pearson, 61, journalist, political speech-writer, founder of the Adelaide Review
• 14 June – Betty Burstall, 87, theatre director, founder of La Mama Theatre
• 15 June –
  • Helen Hughes, 84, economist.
  • Dennis O'Rourke, 67, documentary film maker
  • Syd Young, 95, footballer (South Melbourne)
• 18 June – Jean Melzer, 87, politician, Senator for Victoria (1974–1981)
• 19 June –
  • Michael Hodgman, 74, Tasmanian politician
  • Paul Mees, 52, academic and lawyer
• 20 June –
  • Beril Jents, 95, fashion designer
  • Jeffrey Smart, 91, painter
• 21 June – Wendy Saddington, 64, jazz and blues singer (Chain)
• 28 June –
  • Peter Lehmann, 82, winemaker
  • Kenneth Minogue, 83, academic and political scientist

July

• 1 July – Gary Shearston, 74, singer and songwriter
• 5 July –
  • Paul Couvret, 91, politician and military veteran
  • Gwyn Hanssen Pigott, 77, ceramicist
• 16 July – Don McIntyre, 98, football player (Carlton Football Club)
• 19 July – Alan Hunt, 85, politician, member of the Victorian Legislative Council (1961–1992)
• 21 July – Irene Gleeson, 68, humanitarian
• 23 July – Mike Morwood, 62, archaeologist, discoverer of the Flores hobbit
• 26 July – Mike Shipley, Grammy Award-winning sound engineer and music producer (Def Leppard)
• 27 July – Nick Evers, 75, politician, Tasmanian MHA for Franklin (1986–1990)
• 28 July –
  • Graham Murray, 58, rugby league player and coach
  • Ray Strauss, 85, cricketer
• 29 July – Tony Gaze, 93, military officer, RAF World War II flying ace and Grand Prix race car driver

August

• 1 August – John Dengate, 74, folk singer and songwriter
• 4 August – Billy Ward, 20, Olympic boxer (born 1993).^[34]
• 6 August – John Kingsmill, 92, author and actor.
• 8 August – Ios Teper, 98, Soviet military officer, awarded Order of the Red Banner for Battle of Berlin
• 9 August – Brian Moll, 88, actor (A Country Practice, Street Fighter)
• 10 August – Jonathan Dawson, 71, film maker, critic and historian
• 13 August – Bob Bignall, 91, Olympic soccer player (1956)
• 16 August – John Munro, 84, cricker and football player
• 17 August – Jim Clark, 88, VFL footballer (Carlton Football Club)
• 19 August – Noel Pidding, 86, rugby league player (St George Dragons)
• 22 August – Jim Ramsay, 83, politician, Victorian MLA for Balwyn (1973–1988)
• 23 August – John Mainstone, 78, physics professor
• 27 August –
  • Maxwell Fuller, 68, chess master.
  • Chris Kennedy, 64, film director (Doing Time for Patsy Cline, A Man's Gotta Do)
  • Bill Peach, 78, television journalist (This Day Tonight)
• 28 August – Matt Doust, 29, artist (died in Los Angeles)
• 31 August – William John Brennan, 75, Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Wagga Wagga (1984–2002)

September

• 1 September – Gordon Steege, 95, military officer, RAAF flying ace
• 3 September – Lewis Morley, 88, photographer (Christine Keeler, Joe Orton)
• 4 September – Sir Arthur George, 98, association football administrator
• 7 September – Frank Blevins, 74, politician, Deputy Premier of South Australia (1992–1993)
• 11 September – Keith Dunstan, 88, journalist and author
• 14 September – Faith Leech, 72, Olympic champion freestyle swimmer (1956)
• 15 September – Joyce Jacobs, 91, actress (A Country Practice)
• 17 September –
  • Ted Connelly, 94, politician, Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly (1975–1977).
  • Bernie McGann, 76, jazz saxophonist
• 18 September – Dame Monica Gallagher, 90, community worker and church activist
• 20 September – Ron Richards, 85, VFL footballer (Collingwood Football Club)^[35]
• 23 September –
  • Anthony Hawkins, 80, actor (Special Squad).
  • John Hipwell, 65, rugby union player and national team captain
  • Rex Hobcroft, 88, pianist, conductor, composer and music administrator
  • Christopher Koch, 81, novelist (The Year of Living Dangerously)
• 24 September – Margaret Feilman, 92, town planner and architect.
• 29 September – Michael Maher, 77, politician, MP for Lowe (1982–1987).
• 30 September –
  • John Hopkins, 86, conductor and administrator
  • Janet Powell, 71, politician, Senator for Victoria and Leader of the Australian Democrats (1990–1991)

October

• 1 October – Rosemary Adey, 80, softball player
• 3 October − Reginald Byers, 79, operatic tenor
• 7 October –
  • Basil Dickinson, 98, Olympic athlete (1936)
  • Bruce McPherson, 77, Queensland Supreme Court judge
• 9 October – Chopper Read, 58, crime figure and author
• 13 October – David Thomson, 88, politician, member of the House of Representatives (1975–1983)
• 15 October –
  • Sean Edwards, 26, English professional racing driver (died in Queensland)
  • Nevill Drury, 66, author and publisher
• 16 October –
  • Charles Halton, 81, mathematician and civil servant.
  • Laurel Martyn, 97, ballerina and choreographer.
• 20 October – Bruce Beeby, 91, actor.
• 23 October − Anthony Joseph Burgess, 75, Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Wewak (2002−2013)
• 27 October −
  • Basil Hennessy, 88, archaeologist.
  • Albie Thomas, 78, Olympic runner.
• 28 October −
  • Troy Clarke, 44, Australian rules footballer
  • Marea Gazzard, 85, sculptor and ceramicist.

November

• 3 November −
  • Rupert Gerritsen, 60, historian.
  • Leonard Long, 102, landscape painter
• 7 November – Ian Davies, 57, Olympic and Hall of Fame basketball player
• 10 November – John Grant, 91, neurosurgeon and disability sport administrator.
• 19 November – Gunter Christmann, 77, painter.
• 25 November – Elke Neidhardt, 72, opera director (Ring cycles) and actress (Skippy the Bush Kangaroo).

December

• 1 December − Martin Sharp, 71, artist
• 2 December − John Ewbank, 64, rock climber.
• 4 December − Robert Allman, 86, opera singer
• 8 December − Sir John Cornforth, 96, chemist, laureate of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1975) (died in England)
• 10 December −
  • Mary Allitt, 80, cricket player.
  • Alan Coleman, 76, television director and producer (The Young Doctors, Neighbours)
• 11 December − Frederick Fox, 82, milliner.
• 13 December − Andrew Plain, sound editor.
• 14 December − Neil Robson, 85, politician.
• 22 December – Keith McGowan, 70, radio presenter

See also

• 2013 in Australian literature
• 2013 in Australian television

References