2007 in Australia

Infobox Australian year
monarch = Elizabeth II
governor-general = Michael Jeffery
pm =John Howard, then Kevin Rudd
population =
australian =
elections =Federal, NSW"See also:"
2006 in Australia,
other events of 2007,
2008 in Australia

yearbox
in?= in Australia
cp=20th Century
c=21st century
cf=22nd century

yp1=2004
yp2=2005
yp3=2006
year=2007
ya1=2008
ya2=2009
ya3=2010
dp3=1970s
dp2=1980s
dp1=1990s
d=2000s
da=0
dn1=2010s
dn2=2020s
dn3=2030s

Incumbents

*Monarch – Queen Elizabeth II
*Governor-General – Michael Jeffery
*Prime Minister – John Howard, until 3 December then Kevin Rudd

Premiers and Chief Ministers

*Premier of New South Wales – Morris Iemma
*Premier of South Australia – Mike Rann
*Premier of Queensland – Peter Beattie (until 13 September), then Anna Bligh
*Premier of Tasmania – Paul Lennon
*Premier of Western Australia – Alan Carpenter
*Premier of Victoria – Steve Bracks (until 30 July), then John Brumby
*Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory – Jon Stanhope
*Chief Minister of the Northern Territory – Clare Martin (until 26 November), then Paul Henderson
*Chief Minister of Norfolk Island - David Ernest Buffett (until 28 March), then Andre Nobbs

Governors and Administrators

*Governor of New South Wales – Marie Bashir
*Governor of South Australia – Marjorie Jackson-Nelson (until July 31), then Kevin Scarce (from August 8)
*Governor of Queensland – Quentin Bryce
*Governor of Tasmania – William Cox
*Governor of Western Australia – Ken Michael
*Governor of Victoria – David de Kretser
*Administrator of the Northern Territory – Ted Egan (until October 30), then Tom Pauling (from November 9)
*Administrator of Norfolk Island - Grant Tambling (until September), then Owen Walsh (acting)

Events

Whole year

* Year of the Surf Lifesaver [ [http://www.dcita.gov.au/sport/news_and_events/2007_year_of_the_surf_lifesaver 2007 - Year of the Surf Lifesaver] , Australian government.]

January

* January 1 - An estimated five hundred rioters turn on police in Rye, Victoria. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/01/01/1167500036707.html Police hurt as revellers riot] , "The Age", 1 January 2007]
*January 4 - Storms lash the town of Esperance, Western Australia. A natural disaster area is declared. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1821676.htm Super storm lashes WA] , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 4 January 2007.]
*January 13 - Youth attending an illegal drag race in the Melbourne suburb of Noble Park turn on police throwing flares and trashing a video store. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/01/13/1168105227852.html Burn-out crowd goes on the rampage] , "The Age", 12 January 2007.]
*January 15 - The first day of competition at the Australian Open is marred by clashes between Serbian and Croatian supporters and the Victorian police. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2007/s1827348.htm Croatian, Serbian fans clash at Australian Open] , "PM" (ABC Local Radio), 15 January 2007.]
*January 16 - Large parts of Victoria are hit with power outages, including Melbourne, Geelong and Bendigo, after bushfires knock out power transmission lines connecting the state to the national electricity grid. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2007/s1828048.htm Major power shortages black out large parts of Victoria] , "PM" (ABC Local Radio), 16 January 2007.]
*January 23 - John Howard reshuffles his federal cabinet. Such changes include the sacking of the Immigration Minister, Amanda Vanstone. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/01/23/1169330872193.html Turnbull rises, Vanstone falls] , "The Sydney Morning Herald", 23 January 2007.]
*January 26 - Organisers of the Big Day Out in Sydney plead with event-goers not to bring Australian flags with them, fearing outbreaks of racial violence. The plea is ignored, and the day passes without incident. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bdo-flag-ban-stupid-says-pm/2007/01/22/1169330795860.html BDO flag ban stupid, says PM] , "The Sydney Morning Herald", 22 January 2007.]
* January 31 - A report commissioned by the Government of New South Wales predicts large temperature rises and a decrease in rainfall of up to 40 per cent over the next 70 years. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1837623.htm Sydney given 'doomsday' climate change warning] , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 31 January 2007.]

February

*February 5 - The first inquest into the deaths of the Balibo Five begins. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1840349.htm Inquest begins into Balibo Five death] , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 5 February 2007.]
*February 7 - James Hardie announces that it has approved long-term compensation arrangements for asbestos victims. [Press release: [http://www.ir.jameshardie.com.au/jh/asbestos_compensation.jsp James Hardie pays initial A$184.3 million to AICF] , James Hardie Industries, 9 February 2007.]
*February 11 - Prime Minister John Howard causes a diplomatic stir when he publicly criticises U.S. presidential nominee Barack Obama for his plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6352785.stm Australia PM slams US candidate] , BBC News, 12 February 2007.]

March

*March 3 - Liberal Senator Ian Campbell resigns his cabinet portfolio as Minister for Human Services after it is revealed that he, like Kevin Rudd, had met with disgraced former Premier of Western Australia, Brian Burke.
*March 4 - At the request of president Xanana Gusmão and prime minister José Ramos-Horta, Australian Special Air Service troops raid a rebel stronghold in Same, East Timor, in an attempt to capture rebel leader Alfredo Reinhado. Four Timorese men are killed in the battle, and Reinhado escapes.
*March 6 - The Australian government approves a proposed AUD $11.1 billion sale of the national airline Qantas to an international consortium after the Foreign Investment Review Board finds that the sale would not breach foreign ownership laws.
*March 7 - Five Australians are killed when Garuda Indonesia Flight 200 crashes and explodes in Java: a journalist, two Australian Federal Police officers, an Australian embassy official and a foreign aid worker.
*March 8 - Two people are killed when Severe Tropical Cyclone George makes landfall near Port Hedland, Western Australia. An third death occurs three days later when a man dies of head injuries sustained in the cyclone.
*March 9 - Shadow Attorney-General Kelvin Thomson resigns from the Opposition front bench after it is revealed that he wrote a positive character reference for Melbourne gangland figure and fugitive Tony Mokbel six years ago.
*March 14 - An electrical fault on a Northern Line train near the Sydney Harbour Bridge strands 4,000 passengers on Sydney's CityRail train system for nearly three hours, and causes substantial delays during the evening rush hour.
*March 16 - Senator Santo Santoro resigns as Minister for Ageing following a scandal involving his ownership of shares in a company related to his portfolio. He resigns from the Senate on March 20.
*March 18 - More than 200,000 people walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
*March 23 - Three people are killed when three trucks and four cars are involved in a major collision and explosion in Melbourne's Burnley Tunnel.
*March 23 - The PlayStation 3 games console is released in Australia, exactly a year after the Australian release of Microsoft's Xbox 360.
*March 24 - The Australian Labor Party and Premier Morris Iemma are returned to power with a reduced majority in the 2007 New South Wales state election. Peter Debnam resigns as Opposition Leader & Barry O'Farrell is elected leader on April 4.
*March 26 - Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Matthew Hicks pleads guilty to a charge of providing material support for terrorism before a United States military commission in Cuba.
*March 28 - Four people are killed after a private charter boat collides with a Sydney Harbour ferry.
*March 29 - New South Wales Police arrest three people, including an Australian Army captain, for alleged involvement in the theft and distribution of M72 LAW rocket launchers to criminals. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Three-accused-of-rocket-launcher-theft/2007/04/05/1175366359026.html Weapons theft is not widespread: Houston] , "The Age", 5 April 2007.]
*March 31 - Earth Hour, in which Sydneysiders were encouraged to turn off their lights between 7:30pm and 8:30pm, takes place.

April

*April 2 - The Bureau of Meteorology issues a tsunami warning for the east coast of Australia after an earthquake in the South Pacific Ocean is detected. Precautions are taken, such as the suspension of Sydney Ferry services, but Australia is unaffected. The tsunami, however, causes devastation in the Solomon Islands.
*April 10 - Four elderly residents of the Broughton Hall nursing home in Melbourne die after a gastroenteritis outbreak at the home over the Easter weekend. A fifth resident dies in hospital on April 16.
*April 19 - Prime Minister John Howard announces a report which states that unless significant rain falls in the Murray-Darling Basin within the next six to eight weeks, Australia will face a major agricultural crisis with no irrigation allocations available to farmers.
*April 24 - Two Australian soldiers are injured when a roadside bomb goes off in Iraq.
*April 26 - Former immigration minister Senator Amanda Vanstone announces her immediate resignation from the Australian Senate. It is announced later that day that Vanstone will take up the position of Australia's Ambassador to Italy in late June.

May

*May 20 - Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Matthew Hicks returns to Australia, where he will serve the remaining seven months of his sentence at Adelaide's Yatala Labour Prison.

June

*June 1 - The Australian Government climate task force releases its report, recommending Australia implement an emissions trading scheme by 2012. Prime Minister John Howard declines to set a target for greenhouse gas reduction until after the 2007 election. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6716429.stm Australia PM pledges climate plan] , British Broadcasting Corporation, 3 June 2007.]
*June 5 - Eleven people are killed, 12 seriously injured, 50 others wounded and 13 still missing after a V/Line train collides with a truck at a level crossing near Kerang, Victoria. [cite news
publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
last =
first =
title = 'No boom gates' at level crossing crash scene
url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1943147.htm
date = June 5 2007
accessdate = 2007-06-05
language = English]
*June 6 - Fugitive Tony Mokbel is recaptured in Greece after being missing since March 2006 [cite news
publisher = News Limited
last =
first =
title = Tony Mokbel recaptured
url = http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21857605-2,00.html
date = June 6 2007
accessdate = 2007-06-06
language = English] .
*June 8 - June 10 - Major storms strike Newcastle, the Hunter region and the Central Coast, killing at least nine people and causing major flooding. The coal freighter "Pasha Bulker" is forced to run aground on Nobby's Beach, a major Newcastle beach. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1945579.htm (ABC News Australia)] ] [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1946103.htm (ABC News Australia)] ] [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1946010.htm (ABC News Australia)] ]
*June 18 - Victoria Police cordon off a large part of the Melbourne city centre after a gunman shoots three people, killing one, and then escapes. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/one-dead-gunman-at-large/2007/06/18/1182018971854.html One dead, gunman at large] , "The Age", 18 June 2007.]
*June 21 - After the release of a report into child abuse and domestic violence in indigenous communities, the Prime Minister declares the situation a "national emergency" and announces a series of measures (most of which are controversial) to deal with the crisis.
*June 25 - John Laws announces his retirement from radio after a career spanning 54 years. [cite news
publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
last =
first =
title = John Laws Calls It Quits
url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/06/25/1960657.htm
date = June 25 2007
accessdate = 2007-06-25
language = English] .

July

*July 2 - The "Pasha Bulker" is refloated after 25 days aground.
*July 2 - Thai Airways International flight TG999 arrives in Melbourne from Bangkok, causing a health scare when one of the passengers is later diagnosed with polio. [ [http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/15/1978986.htm 130 yet to be contacted over polio] , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 15 July 2007.]
*July 3 - Wesfarmers announces a $22 billion takeover of the Coles Group in the nation's largest ever corporate takeover.
*July 3 - Dr. Mohamed Haneef is arrested at Brisbane Airport on suspicion of being involved in the 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack.
*July 7 - Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney hosts one of seven global legs of the Live Earth concert series, which aim to promote action on climate change.
*July 14 - Dr. Mohamed Haneef is charged with providing support to a terrorist organisation, after it is alleged that he "recklessly" provided his mobile phone SIM card to the group responsible for the 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/07/14/1183833812030.html Terror suspect doctor granted bail] , "The Age", 14 July 2007.]
*July 27 - Steve Bracks resigns as Premier of Victoria. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bracks-resigns-as-premier/2007/07/27/1185339209648.html Steve Bracks resigns as Premier] , "The Age", 27 July 2007.] Deputy Premier John Thwaites also resigns. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/thwaites-may-follow-bracks-out/2007/07/27/1185339220094.html Thwaites may follow Bracks out] , "The Age", 27 July 2007.]
*July 27 - The Director of Public Prosecutions drops the terrorism support charges against Dr. Mohamed Haneef. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/free-at-last--or-not/2007/07/27/1185339257833.html Free at last: charges dropped, but doubts remain] , "The Sydney Morning Herald", 28 July 2007.]
*July 30 - John Brumby and Rob Hulls are elected unopposed as Premier and Deputy Premier of Victoria respectively, following the sudden resignation of Steve Bracks and John Thwaites.

August

*August 14 - The federal Cabinet approves uranium exports to India outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6950735.stm Australia PM defends nuclear sale] , "BBC News", 17 August 2007.]
*August 15 - Three journalists (Paul Daley and Michael Brissenden of the ABC, and Tony Wright of "The Age" and previously "The Bulletin") give details of a dinner they attended in 2005 with Treasurer Peter Costello, at which Costello outlined his intention to challenge Prime Minister John Howard for the leadership of the Liberal Party. [Wright, Tony: [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/08/14/1186857511664.html How Costello planned the PM's demise] , "The Age", 15 August 2007.]
*August 19 - Leader of the Opposition Kevin Rudd admits that he once visited New York strip club Scores in 2003. [ [http://www.worldnewsaustralia.com.au/region.php?id=139246&region=7 Rudd regrets strip club visit] , SBS, 20 August 2007.]
*August 21 - The Federal Court of Australia reverses the decision of Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews to cancel the visa of former terrorism suspect Dr. Mohamed Haneef on character grounds, although the Australian Government announces it will appeal the decision. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/government-to-appeal/2007/08/21/1187462228620.html Government to appeal Haneef visa ruling] , "The Age", 21 August 2007.]
*August 27 - The Australian Government releases a draft booklet of Australian facts and values from which 20 questions of a citizenship test will be drawn. Applicants for citizenship will be required to score 12 out of 20 (60%) in the test to be eligible. [Topsfield, Jewel: [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/government-unveils-citizenship-test/2007/08/26/1188066946389.html Get 12 answers right and you're an Aussie citizen] , "The Age", 27 August 2007.]

eptember

*September 2 – September 9 - The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation hosts its annual leaders meeting in Sydney. A public holiday was held in the Sydney Metropolitan area on September 7.
*September 10 - Peter Beattie announces he will resign as Premier of Queensland
*September 11 - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper became the first Canadian Prime Minister, since Canadian Confederation, to address the Parliament of Australia.
*September 13 - Anna Bligh is sworn in as Queensland's first female premier.
*September 15 - A three-year-old toddler, Qian Xun Xue (nicknamed "Pumpkin" by authorities), is found wandering alone at Melbourne's Southern Cross Station. Police believe the child had arrived several days before from New Zealand, and that her father had fled to the United States.
*September 22 - The 171 year old Myer building in Hobart is destroyed by fire.

October

*October 4 - The controversial Gunns Bell Bay Pulp Mill is given the go-ahead by federal Environment and Water Resources Minister Malcolm Turnbull, with some conditions imposed on its development and with the Shadow minister for Environment and Water 's backing. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/04/2050653.htm Govt gives green light to pulp mill] , ABC News, 4 October 2007.]

November

*November 6 - An Australian children's toy known as Bindeez is recalled and a safety warning is issued after several children who had swallowed the beads were hospitalised suffering the symptoms of ingestion of gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid or GHB. The toys are also recalled in the United States and United Kingdom after several U.S. children suffer the same effects. [ [http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/07/australia.toys/ Toy with 'date rape' drug pulled] , November 7 2007.]
*November 9 - The Assistant Commissioner of Victoria Police, Noel Ashby, resigns after the release of phone conversations in which he plotted to undermine an Office of Police Integrity hearing. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/nixon-i-feel-betrayed/2007/11/09/1194329514527.html Nixon: 'I feel betrayed'] , "The Age", 10 November 2007.]
*November 21 - Three days before the federal election, members of the Liberal Party are caught letterboxing the electorate of Lindsay with pamphlets from a bogus Islamic organisation, praising Labor for its support of the Bali bombers. Jackie Kelly, the retiring member for Lindsay whose husband was involved in the scandal, dismissed the incident as a "Chaser"-style prank."
*November 24 - A federal election is held. Kevin Rudd is elected as Prime Minister of Australia after the Australian Labor Party wins a majority in the House of Representatives.
*November 25 - Peter Costello indicates he will not run for either Leader or Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party following their electoral defeat.
*November 26 - Clare Martin announces her resignation as Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. Paul Henderson, the Territory's education minister is sworn in as her replacement on the same day.
*November 29 - Brendan Nelson is elected Opposition Leader by 45 votes to 42 over Malcolm Turnbull. Julie Bishop is elected Deputy Leader.

December

*December 3 - On his first day as Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd ratifies the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
*December 11 - Julia Gillard becomes Acting Prime Minister as Kevin Rudd attends the 2007 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, technically making her Australia's first female prime minister.
*December 13 - Zed Seselja becomes Opposition Leader of the ACT after the resignation of Bill Stefaniak. This follows the expulsion from the party of former Shadow Treasurer Richard Mulcahy on 10 December.
*December 21 - The Federal Court upholds the ruling of Justice Spender that former immigration minister Kevin Andrews was wrong to revoke the visa of Indian doctor and terrorism suspect Mohamed Haneef. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/haneef-wins-back-visa/2007/12/21/1198175297229.html Hannef wins back visa] , "The Age", December 21 2007.]

Arts & Literature

* March 1 - John Beard wins the 2007 Archibald Prize for his portrait of fellow artist Janet Laurence.
* April 13 - Australian author Peter Carey is announced as one of 15 finalists for the 2007 Man Booker Prize. [ [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21549743-1702,00.html Carey in running for Booker International] , news.com.au, 13 April 2007.]
* June 5 - Australian crime writer Peter Temple wins the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award for his novel "The Broken Shore".
* June 21 - "Carpentaria" by Alexis Wright is announced as the winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award

Film

*January 23 - The Australian film "Clubland" is picked up by a US distributor at the Sundance Film Festival.
*February 25 - The Australian animated film "Happy Feet", directed by George Miller, wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
*March 26 - The documentary "Bra Boys" became Australia's highest-grossing non-IMAX documentary.
*April 30 - Filming begins in Sydney on Baz Luhrmann's epic World War II drama "Australia", starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

Television

* January 29 – Former "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" host and CEO of the Nine Network, Eddie McGuire, returns to screens as the host of Nine's new game show "1 vs. 100". Also debuting on the same night, but at a different time, is the Seven Network's big money game show "The Rich List".
* February 9 – The Australian Football League signs a five-year broadcasting contract with the Seven Network, Network Ten and pay TV provider Foxtel, in a controversial deal that will see half of the AFL matches played each week broadcast on Foxtel instead of free-to-air television.
* February 12 – Jodi Power, a family friend of convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby, made allegations in a paid interview on Channel Seven's "Today Tonight" that Corby's sister Mercedes had previously asked Power to transport drugs to Bali and that Mercedes had confessed to smuggling compressed cannabis concealed inside her body into Indonesia. Mercedes is interviewed by Channel Nine's rival program "A Current Affair" on 14 February.
* April 1 – When it was announced on "Weekend Sunrise", The Seven Network pays $3 million for the broadcast rights to the fourth series of "Kath & Kim", a popular sitcom which had previously aired until their final appearance on the ABC in 2005/06 as "Da Kath & Kim Code".
* April 16 – Australia's Leader of the Opposition Kevin Rudd and Minister for Workplace Relations Joe Hockey discontinue their weekly appearances on Seven's breakfast news program "Sunrise" after four years. The decision follows possibly politically-damaging accusations that "Sunrise" had requested that Rudd appear at a dawn service for ANZAC Day in Long Tan, Vietnam, with the service held an hour early to accommodate the time difference for live television. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/seven-sorry-for-sunrise-split/2007/04/16/1176575723592.html Seven 'sorry' for Sunrise split] , "The Age", 16 April 2007.]
* May 18 – After a tumultuous 15-month reign, the CEO of the Nine Network, Eddie McGuire, resigns.
* June 1 – The very last ever episode of "Bert's Family Feud" goes to air on the Nine Network after a 18 month run. The show was axed due to the strong competition prize win of rival Seven Network game show "Deal or No Deal".
*June 22 - "Mornings with Kerri-Anne" is axed by WIN. Only Nine or NBN will continue the show. "Mornings with Kerri-Anne" is replaced by "Susie" a talk show with Susie Elelman in Wollongong debuted on June 25, just one week after Seven's "The Morning Show" introduced. "The Morning Show" will definitely be hosted by Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies.
* July 5 – High-budget drama series "Sea Patrol" makes its debut on the Nine Network.
* July 23 – Top-rating soap opera "Neighbours" makes a super international revamp over to continue its long-run on the Network Ten.
* July 30 – Aleisha Cowcher wins Big Brother Australia 2007 becoming the second ever female winner.
* August 19 – Fourth series premiere of "Kath & Kim" at 7:30pm, now on the Seven Network, attracts an audience of 2.521 million nationally,cite news | author = Seven Network | title = Seven - Daily Ratings Report | publisher = ebroadcast.com.au | date = 2007-08-20 | url = http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/enews/tv-ratings-200807.html | accessdate = 2007-08-20 ] making it the most watched television programme so far in 2007 [cite news | author = Daniel Ziffer | title = Foxy morons blitz ratings | publisher = The Age | date = 2007-08-20 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/08/20/1187462134923.html | accessdate = 2007-08-20 ] and the highest rating ever for a first episode in the history of Australian television.
* September 6 - Julian Morrow and Chas Licciardello from "The Chaser's War on Everything" along with nine other production crew members are arrested in Sydney during the APEC summit for entering a restricted area. Those arrested were travelling in a fake Canadian motorcade and Licciardello was dressed up as Osama bin Laden.
*October 15 - 7HD is introduced, becoming the first HD-only channel operated by an Melbourne-based commercial television network.
*October 21 - The Nine Network includes the "worm" audience reaction graph in their broadcast of the election debate between John Howard and Kevin Rudd, despite agreements to the contrary. The National Press Club cut Nine's transmission feed, and the ABC cut their backup feed. Nine continued to transmit by adding the worm to the Sky News broadcast. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/federalelection2007news/the-worm-turns-and-sneaks-back-on-screen-to-bite-howard/2007/10/21/1192940909339.html The Worm turns, and sneaks back on screen to bite Howard] , "The Sydney Morning Herald", 22 October 2007.]
*November 2 - Network Ten's news anchorperson Charmaine Dragun is found dead near Sydney, apparently due to a suicide.
*November 25 - Natalie Gauci is based only on Sony BMG after taking out the title as Australian Idol.
*November 30 - Daryl Somers quits the-highest rating Seven's "Saturday Night Fever" styled-reality show "Dancing With The Stars".
*December 16 - Ten HD launches.

port

*January 1 - Cricketer Justin Langer announces his retirement from Test cricket following the 2006-07 Ashes series, after similar announcements from teammates Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.
*January 5 - Australia wins the Fifth Ashes Test against by 10 wickets at the SCG in Sydney, New South Wales – achieving a 5-0 "whitewash" of every Test in the series for the first time in 86 years.
*February 18 - Season premiers Melbourne Victory FC win the second A-League association football grand final at Telstra Dome in Melbourne, beating Adelaide United 6-0, with Archie Thompson scoring 5 goals.
*March 1 - Jockey Chris Munce is sentenced to 30 months imprisonment in Hong Kong for taking bribes in exchange for racing tips. His lawyers are appealing.
*March 4 - Troy Bayliss and British rider James Toseland each take a race win at the 2007 Australian Superbike World Championship round at Phillip Island.
*March 9 - Brisbane Bullets clinch their first title in twenty years by defeating Melbourne Tigers 103-94 in Game 4 of the NBL Grand Final series.
*March 10 - Motorcycle racer Casey Stoner wins the first grand prix of the MotoGP season and the first ever 800cc grand prix, beating world champion Valentino Rossi at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.
*March 17 - The Carlton Blues win the 2007 NAB Cup, the pre-season competition of the Australian Football League, beating the Brisbane Lions.
*March 18 - Kimi Räikkönen wins the 2007 Australian Grand Prix for the Scuderia Ferrari team.
*March 18 - The Gold Coast Titans play their first ever match against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Suncorp Stadium. They lose 20-18. Their first home game is against the Cronulla Sharks one week later.
*March 18 – April 1 - The 2007 World Aquatics Championships were held in Melbourne.
* March 20 - West Coast Eagles midfielder Ben Cousins is suspended indefinitely by his club after missing two days of training in a row. He later attends a four-week rehabilitation clinic in the United States.
*March 23 - Tasmania wins the Pura Cup cricket competition for the first time, beating New South Wales by 421 runs at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
*March 31 - Retired swimmer Ian Thorpe is accused in French sports newspaper "L'Equipe" of having tested positive for abnormal levels of testosterone in May 2006. FINA demands an investigation into the allegations, which Thorpe denies. Thorpe is eventually found to have no case to answer
*April 8 - Will Power becomes the first Australian to win a Champ Car race after taking victory at the opening round of the season at the Vegas Grand Prix in Las Vegas.
*April 10 - Rugby League legend Andrew Johns announces his retirement following a neck injury.
*April 15 - Australian cyclist Stuart O'Grady wins the Paris-Roubaix Classic. [Liggett, Phil: [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2007/04/16/socycl16.xml O'Grady dream comes true] , "The Daily Telegraph", 16 April 2007.]
*April 28 - Australia wins the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, beating Sri Lanka by 53 runs. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/australias-hattrick/2007/04/29/1177787940363.html Australia wins World Cup final] , "The Age", 29 April 2007.]
*May 23 - Queensland defeat New South Wales 25-18 in the first State of Origin match in the 2007 series.
*July 7 – July 29 - The 2007 AFC Asian Cup football (soccer) tournament takes place in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Socceroos took part for the first time since joining the AFC in 2006. The Socceroos were drawn in Group A with Thailand, Iraq and Oman. They successfully reached the quarter finals, but were defeated by Japan in a penalty shootout.
* July 21 - Ben Cousins makes his AFL comeback for the Eagles against rivals the Sydney Swans.
*July 23 - Denis Pagan is sacked as the coach of Carlton Football Club. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Pagan-did-it-tough-at-Carlton/2007/07/23/1185043017611.html Pagan did it tough at Carlton] , "The Age", 23 July 2007.]
*July 25 - After 26 years as Essendon coach, it is announced that the contract of Kevin Sheedy will not be renewed at the end of the season. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22131535-5005961,00.html Kevin Sheedy sacked by Essendon] , "Herald Sun", 25 July 2007.]
*July 29 - Australian cyclist Cadel Evans comes second in the final standings of the 2007 Tour de France.
*August 23 - A horse is diagnosed with horse flu (equine influenza) in a quarantine station at Eastern Creek. Further horses are diagnosed at the quarantine centre, Centennial Park and outside New South Wales over the next few days, resulting in the cancellation of race meetings Australia-wide and suspension of horse transportation for 72 hours on August 25. [ [http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/26/2015191.htm Call for calm amid horse flu outbreak] , "ABC Online", 26 August 2007.]
*August 26 - Melbourne AFL fans farewell Essendon Football Club coach Kevin Sheedy and captain James Hird, as the Bombers are defeated by Richmond 17.17 (119) to 13.14 (92) at the MCG. [ [http://afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=49833 Hird reflects on an ‘incredible ride’] , AFL, 26 August 2007.]
*August 30 - News Limited papers reveal that Andrew Johns was arrested in London for possessing ecstasy. He later admits to using recreational drugs throughout his career.
*August 30 - The 2007 Spring Racing Carnival at Randwick Racecourse is cancelled to the equine influenza outbreak.
*August 30 - Jana Rawlinson (née Pittman) wins the women's 400m hurdles at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan.
*September 1 - Nathan Deakes wins the 50km walk at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan.
*September 23 - Motorcycle racer Casey Stoner gains an unbeatable lead in the MotoGP world championships when he finished third in a race in Tokyo. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/motorsport/stoner-crowned-new-motogp-champion/2007/09/23/1190486124258.html Stoner crowned new MotoGP champion] , "The Age", 23 September 2007.]
*September 29 - The Geelong Cats (24.19.163) defeat Port Adelaide (6.8.44) to win the 111th VFL/AFL premiership. It is the first premiership since 1963 for the Cats, the first premiership won by a Victorian team since 2000 and the largest ever winning margin in VFL/AFL grand final history.
*September 30 - The Melbourne Storm defeat the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (34–8) at Telstra Stadium, to win the 100th NSWRL/ARL/NRL premiership.
*October 6 - England knock the Wallabies out of the quarter finals of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
*October 7 - The 2007 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 was won by defending champions Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup for TeamVodafone ahead of two other Ford Falcons. It was the first Ford whitewash of the Bathurst podium since 1988.
*October 14 - New world champion, Casey Stoner took victory at the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix, at Phillip Island, the first Australian to win his home event since Mick Doohan in 1998.
*November 6 - "Efficient" wins the 2007 Melbourne Cup.
*November 17 - Australia wins the 2007 Netball World Championships when the Aussies beat New Zealand's Silver Ferns (42–38) in Auckland.
* November 19 - Ben Cousins is banned from playing top-flight AFL for 12 months after being charged of bringing the game into disrepute.
*November 21 - The Olyroos football team qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
*November 28 - Sydney hosts the Asian Football Confederation awards.
*December 2 - Garth Tander wins the 2007 Dunlop Grand Finale, scoring enough points to overhaul Jamie Whincup to win the 2007 V8Supercar Championship Series at Phillip Island, his first series title, and the second successive title for the Toll HSV Dealer Team.
*December 16 - Craig Parry wins the Australian Open golf tournament.
*December 28 – "Wild Oats XI" achieves line honours for the third year running in the 2007 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. "Rosebud" is declared the handicap winner the following day.

Deaths

* January 1 - Leonard Fraser, 55, serial killer
* January 2 - A. Richard Newton, 55, electrical engineer and academic
* January 4 - Ben Gannon, 54, film producer
* January 12 - Sir James Killen, 81, Liberal politician
* January 24 - Harry Melbourne, 94, confectioner (inventor of Freddo Frog)
* January 27 - Trevor Allan, 30, rugby union player and commentator
* February 9 - Andrew McAuley, 39, kayak adventurer
* February 13 - Elizabeth Jolley, 83, author
* February 28 - Billy Thorpe, 60, musician
* March 7 - Morgan Mellish, 36, journalist
* March 9 - Ron Evans, 67, footballer and chairman of the AFL
* March 11 - Angela Webber, 52, comedian and writer
* March 23 - Damian McDonald, 34, Olympic cyclist
* March 30 - Basil Catterns, 90, WWII soldier
* April 1 - John Billings, 89, medical doctor
* April 2 - Jeannie Ferris, 66, Liberal senator
* April 10 - Kevin Crease, 70, South Australian newsreader
* April 13 - Joe Lane, 80, bebop jazz vocalist
* April 15 - Justine Saunders, 54, actress
* April 17 - Len Fitzgerald, 76, VFL/SANFL footballer
* April 17 - Bruce Haslingden, 84, Olympic cross-country skier
* April 20 - Audrey Fagan, 44, Chief Police Officer of the ACT
* April 21 - Lobby Loyde, 64, musician
* May 13 - Kate Webb, 64, war journalist
* May 14 - Aaron McMillan, 30, classical pianist
* May 16 - Allan Hird, 88, VFL footballer
* May 20 - Norman Von Nida, 93, golfer
* May 21 - Peter Hayes, 54, lawyer
* May 24 - Bill Johnston, 85, cricketer
* May 27 - Ron Archer, 73, Test cricketer
* May 29 - Norman Kaye, 80, actor
* June 4 - Tom Burns, 75, ALP politician
* June 8 - Lynne Randell, 57, 1960s pop singer
* June 10 - George Burarrwanga, 50, lead singer of the Warumpi Band
* June 12 - Frank Scarrabelotti, 109, Australia's oldest man
* July 6 - Eileen Wearne, 95, sprinter and Australia's oldest Olympic athlete
* July 9 - General John Baker, 71, former Chief of the Australian Defence Force (1995–1998)
* July 11 - Richard Franklin, 58, film director
* July 11 - Glenda Adams, 68, writer
* July 12 - Stan Zemanek, 60, radio broadcaster
* July 16 - Tom Brooks, 88, NSW cricketer and international umpire
* July 22 - Walter Jona, 81, Victorian politician
* July 27 - Leo "Lucky" Grills, 79, comedian and actor
* August 7 - Wolfgang Sievers, 93, photographer
* August 12 - Ronald N. Bracewell, 86, physicist and radio astronomer
* August 17 - Tanja Liedtke, 30, dancer
* September 8 - Vincent Serventy, 91, writer and conservationist
* September 13 - Neville Jeffress, 87, advertising executive and founder of Media Monitors Australia
* September 13 - Clare Oliver, 26, cancer activist
* September 18 - Len Thompson, 60, Collingwood VFL player
* September 20 - Myra Nicholson, 112, Australia's oldest person
* September 21 - Bob Collins, 61, former ALP senator
* September 29 - Lois Maxwell, 80, Canadian actress who played Miss Moneypenny in the early James Bond films, spent later years of her life in Perth.
* October 1 - Chris Mainwaring, 41, West Coast Eagles AFL player
* October 12 - Kim Edward Beazley, 90, ALP politician and father of Kim Beazley
* October 23 - John Ilhan, 42, founder of Crazy John's mobile phones
* October 27 - Charles Batt, 86, Tasmanian politician
* November 2 - Charmaine Dragun, 29, Network Ten WA newsreader
* November 3 - Peter Andren, 61, Independent MP for Calare
* November 6 - George Grljusich, 68, sports announcer and commentator
* November 25 - Matt Price, 46, journalist and newspaper columnist
* November 27 - Bernie Banton, 61, asbestos campaigner
* December 1 - Ken McGregor, 78, tennis champion
* December 5 - John Winter, 83, Olympic high jumper
* December 10 - Gordon Samuels, 84, Governor of New South Wales (1996-2001)
* December 15 - Clem Jones, 89, Lord Mayor of Brisbane (1961-1975)
* December 20 - Robbie Williams, 45, first Indigenous Australian to sit on the Brisbane City Council
* December 21 - Ken Lee, 75, founder of Bing Lee electronics superstores
* December 22 - Charles Court, 96, Premier of Western Australia (1974-1982)

References