5 January – Sir William McMahon announces his retirement from politics after 32 years. His resignation comes at an awkward time for the Federal Government, not keen to test its mid-term popularity in so vulnerable a seat as Lowe.
February
2 February – Lindy Chamberlain is committed for trial for the murder of her daughter Azaria.
5 February – A Cessna 411A aircraft crashes into a building at Archerfield Airport. The pilot and four people within the building are killed.
February 14 Devo on Countdown Tour Rockout Band
March
20 March – Thousands of people walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to mark its 50th anniversary.
The XPT (Express Passenger Train) commences operation in New South Wales.
11 April – Business entrepreneur and adventurer Dick Smith makes a record solo helicopter flight from Sydney to Bundaberg.
16 April – Archbishop John Grindrod is appointed as Anglican Primate of Australia, succeeding Sir Marcus Loane.
19 April – Federal Health Minister Michael MacKellar and Customs and Excise Minister John Moore resign over Michael MacKellar's failure to declare and pay duty on a colour television set in October 1981.
5 June – The Premiers and the Commonwealth agree to abolish appeals from the State Supreme Courts to the Privy Council, thus making the High Court of Australia the final court of appeal. Several of the few remaining constitutional links with Britain are also to be severed.
18 June – The South Australian Government passes legislation authorising the development of the Roxby Downs copper-uranium deposit, despite controversy over the issue.
21 June – The Queensland Art Gallery within the Queensland Cultural Centre is opened. The cost had blown out from the original estimate of $10 million to $28 million.
July
7 July – The Australian Labor Party reverses its policy on uranium mining to allow for the continuation of existing projects.
16 July – In response to a leadership challenge by Bob Hawke (which came to a head during the Australian Labor Party National Conference), Bill Hayden resigns, and in a secret vote, retains the leadership by a close 42:37.
31 July – The Lyric Opera of Queensland is established.
August
2 August – The Daily Sun newspaper begins publication in Brisbane.
8 August – The Dalai Lama visits Australia to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Buddhism in the country.
15 August – Queensland Government workers, including railway employees, walk out for two days in support of shorter working hours and a general strike results.
24 August –
The fourth interim report of the Costigan Royal Commission into the Ships Painters and Dockers' Union begins a series of revelations about tax fraud which implicates senior public servants and members of the Liberal Party. The report highlights tax-avoidance schemes, including "bottom of the harbour" plans. The resulting furor ends speculation about an early election.
The strike in Queensland ends when unions capitulate before the government's adamant attitude on the issue.
September
26 September – Parachutist Rich Collins accidentally reaches an altitude of 2,800 metres (9,200 ft) during a jump; short of oxygen, he releases his main parachute to lower himself and lands on his reserve chute.[1]
30 September – A Cessna 210-5 vanishes on a flight from Atherton to Mount Isa. The five people aboard are presumed to have perished.
October
11 October – Andrew Peacock becomes Industry and Commerce Minister after 18 months on the backbench when ill-health forces Sir Phillip Lynch's resignation from the position and from Parliament.
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.
10 November – Tasmania's most infamous murder case occurs when lawyer Randall Askeland beats his wife, Wendy Mold, to death with an iron bar whilst she is asleep.
December
1 December – The Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act becomes operative.
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 New South Wales.
25 July – Robert Wallace wins 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 for 35 years for Richmond.
26 September – Minor premiers, the Parramatta Eels, defeat the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 21-8^ to win the 75th NSWRL premiership. It is their second consecutive premiership. The Canberra Raiders, in their inaugural season, finish in last position, claiming the wooden spoon.
