2 January – A helicopter carrying Australian Foreign Minister
Alexander Downer makes an emergency landing in the Bougainville hinterland after its windscreen is smashed in a
bird strike.[3] Downer was travelling to
Arawa to meet senior leaders of the
Bougainville Revolutionary Army.[3]
25 January – American tourists
Tom and Eileen Lonergan are unintentionally left behind on the Great Barrier Reef after a scuba diving trip.[9]
26 January – In the aftermath of
Cyclone Les, the town of
Katherine in the
Northern Territory begins to be affected by torrential rain causing major flooding which eventually claims the lives of three people.[10][11][12][13]
28 January – Prime Minister John Howard unveils a new plan for training, education and expansion of the Work for the Dole Scheme aimed at easing youth unemployment.[14][15] Howard's plan is criticised by the president of the Australian Council of Social Service Michael Raper.[16]
29 January – A man opens fire at a real estate agency in the Perth suburb of
Mundaring, killing his estranged wife and seriously injuring another staff member as well as a customer before fleeing.[17] He crashes his car and then attempts suicide by shooting himself but was taken to Swan Districts Hospital in a serious condition.[17]
30 January – Prime Minister John Howard visits the flood ravaged town of Katherine in the Northern Territory as flood waters claim their first victim.[18]
February
1 February – Some Sunday newspapers publish a
Libra advertisement for ultra-absorbent
menstrual pads accompanied by a caption which reads "
Katherine could use some of these right now" while also depicting a flooded home.[13] Northern Territory Deputy Chief Minister
Mike Reed criticises the ads describing them as "un-Australian" and calls on the company to apologise.[13] General manager of Sancellar Pty Ltd, the makers of Libra products, unreservedly apologises and commits $25,000 for the town's
Red Cross appeal.[13]
4 February – The Federal Government gives short-term credit insurance to exporters to Indonesia to counter-act the effect of Indonesia's economic problems.[21]
21 February – Elections in the
ACT re-elect the
Liberal Party government of Kate Carnell.[23] It would be the last State or Territory election that the
Liberal Party have managed to form government after until the
Western Australiastate election in September 2008.
3 March – Federal Speaker of the House of Representatives
Bob Halverson resigns.[24]
8 March – New South Wales Premier
Bob Carr opens the Olympic Park Station on the new rail link between Sydney and the site for the 2000 Olympics.[25]
12 March – The Federal Opposition alleges that Mining and Resources Minister
Warwick Parer increased his ownership of a mining company during the first year of the Howard Government's office.[26]
16 March – Prime Minister
John Howard pledges a $50 million crime database investment if the Liberal Party is re-elected.[citation needed]
17 March – The Federal Government announces sweeping reforms to business rules to attract overseas companies to Australia.[citation needed]
April
2 April – Prime Minister
John Howard pledges $270 million to keep the aged in their own homes and win back their support.[27]
7 April – 3 June –
Patrick Corporation sacks 2,000 dock workers to try to improve efficiency on the waterfront.[28] In response, the
Maritime Union of Australia stages possibly the largest
industrial dispute Australia has ever seen.[29] In the end, the jobs are restored to the workers in exchange for improvements in efficiency.
After attending that morning's Anzac Day commemorations, 16-year-old Air Force Cadet
Rachel Antonio goes missing from the North Queensland town of
Bowen after being dropped off at the local cinema to see an evening movie.[31]
May
5 May – Fires caused by unsafe fuel hoses aboard the replenishment ship
HMAS Westralia kill four people.[32][33]
14 May – Prime Minister
John Howard cuts defence ties and suspends all but the most vital humanitarian aid to India after the country carries out two more nuclear tests.[34]
18 May – The value of the Australian dollar slumps to 62 and a quarter US cents, its lowest level in 12 years.[35] In a radio interview, Prime Minister
John Howard attributes the fall in value on "poorly informed, economically illiterate money market people on the other side of the world".[36]
Prime Minister
John Howard opens the new Central Synagogue in Sydney to replace the former synagogue which burnt down in 1994.[38]
Christopher Skase's passport is seized by Spanish officials and cancelled.[39] Skase applies for a renewal of his Spanish residency, which expired on 13 May and the Federal Government asks Spanish authorities to refuse the application, hoping it will force him home.[39]
26 May – The first
National Sorry Day is observed, on the first anniversary of the tabling of the report Bringing them Home which was the result of an inquiry into the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families (the
Stolen Generation).[40][41][42] The day was held annually until 2004. It was renamed
National Day of Healing from 2005.
27 May – The
Australian Labor Party criticises the Queensland Coalition Government for its decision to put
Pauline Hanson's One Nation party ahead of the Labor Party on how to vote papers for the upcoming Queensland State Election.
30 May – Prime Minister
John Howard expresses Australia's concern about Pakistan's nuclear tests.[43]
26 June 1998 – While awaiting trial on child sex charges, former New South Wales state MP and former mayor of Wollongong
Frank Arkell is murdered by
Mark Valera.[49] In 2000, Valera is found guilty of murdering Arkell and David O'Hearn and sentenced to two term of life imprisonment.[50][51]
11 July – The
Telstra sale bill is defeated in the Senate.[52] Prime Minister
John Howard states the full sale of Telstra is still on the agenda for the next election.
15 July – Prime Minister
John Howard stands firm against a Coalition backbench revolt on the full sale of Telstra.[53] Howard informs Parliament that the Government is committed to the Telstra sale.[53]
21 July – Federal Treasurer
Peter Costello admits he has been approached to challenge
John Howard for the leadership of the Liberal Party.[54] Talk of the challenge overshadows a Cabinet meeting in regional Victoria.[55]
21 July – 5 September – A rapidly evolving
water crisis occurs in Sydney, due to the suspected contamination of the microscopic pathogens cryptosporidium and giardia in the water supply, prompting authorities to instruct residents to boil all their tap water before using it.[56][57][58][59][60][61][62]
22 July – The Federal Government bows to the mounting pressure from backbenchers and rural voters by placing a 49% cap on the sale of
Telstra.[63]
26 July – Premier
Bob Carr promises to help the victims of flooding in Narrabri, Wee Waa and Gunnedah with the damage bill expected to top $100 million.[64]
August
13 August – The Coalition Tax Reform Package is launched and includes a 10 percent GST with the proceeds to be distributed to the states.[65] Income tax will be lowered and the wholesale sales tax abolished, along with certain taxes on financial transactions.[65]
17 September – Prime Minister
John Howard is involved in a heated off-air exchange with ABC staff in Perth following a radio interview on
720 6WF in which he is asked by Mornings presenter
Verity James about whether a GST would affect the price of heroin.[70][71][72] An angry Howard states: "The suggestion that in some way the GST is linked to heroin is just about the most bizarre thing I've heard and I want an apology from the ABC without qualification, and I expect to get it."[72] Both James and the state manager of the ABC in Western Australia Steve Altham unreservedly apologise to Howard in a letter, where they admitted a mistake had been made after briefing material had been misread.[72] ABC managing director
Brian Johns later states the incident was regrettable.[72]
23 September – Federal Opposition Leader
Kim Beazley launches Labor's election policy at the Brisbane Convention Centre, promising funding to a new jobs plan.[73] Prime Minister
John Howard dismisses Mr. Beazley's job target as unrealistic.[74]
25 September – A
fire at
Esso's
Longford plant killed 2, injured 8 & left most of
Victoria without gas for two weeks.[75][76] Hundreds of businesses were affected.[77]
12 November – State Premiers and Territory Chief Ministers meet in Canberra with Prime Minister
John Howard to discuss the sharing of funds from a goods and services tax.[81]
15 November – Prime Minister
John Howard arrives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the APEC Conference.[82]
20 November – The
High Court of Australia decides to allow uranium mining to proceed at Jabiluka in the Northern Territory.
29 November – Prime Minister
John Howard joins in celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Holden motor car.[83]
December
December – A man posts 28 mail bombs at a
Canberrapost office after losing a legal battle with the
Australian Taxation Office which had been going since 1994.[84] One of the bombs explodes, injuring two workers.[84]
1 December – The Federal Government rejects an attempt by
UNESCO to suspend construction of the
Jabiluka uranium mine pending a further environmental impact report.[85]
4 December – Colin Dunstan, aged 43, is arrested for the tax office mail bomb campaign.[87]
14 December – New South Wales Premier
Bob Carr opens extra lanes on the road the runs from Penrith to Strathfield.[citation needed]
19 December – A fire breaks out at the Country Comfort hotel in
Albury, New South Wales, spreading up to the top floor.[88][89]
20 December –
Christopher Skase is rushed to a Majorca hospital just days after a Spanish court lifts an order preventing his deportation.[90]
Full date unknown
The Wiggles re-release three videos after the video release of The Wiggles Movie, including Yummy Yummy, Wiggle Time, and Wiggledance!.[91] However, Yummy Yummy and Wiggle Time contains new footage, as they have been re-recorded, Wiggledance! cuts out the song "Vini Vini".
16 May –
South Melbourne become Australian Champions for the third time in their history, beating newly formed
Carlton SC in the
National Soccer League Grand Final at
Olympic Park, 2-1.[106] The game is marred by brawling soccer fans who invade the playing arena, throw flares and rip up seating prompting Victoria Police to consider increasing police presence and introducing CCTV to monitor crowd behaviour for future games at the venue.[107]
27 September – Minor premiers the
Brisbane Broncos defeat the
Canterbury Bulldogs 38–12 to win the 91st
NSWRL/
ARL/NRL premiership.[116] Gordon Tallis is awarded the
Clive Churchill Medal.[117] It is the first premiership held under the NRL name & the last grand final to be played at the
Sydney Football Stadium (now Aussie Stadium). It is also the second consecutive premiership for the Broncos following their success in the 1997
Super League. The
Western Suburbs Magpies finish in last position on points difference and points against, claiming the wooden spoon.[110]
16 October –
Mark Taylor equals
Don Bradman's record of 334 in a test match against
Pakistan.[119] However, unlike Bradman, Taylor is not out & declares the innings closed when he reaches that score.[120]
13 March – First day of the Australian Track & Field Championships for the 1997–1998 season, which are held at the
Olympic Park in
Melbourne, Victoria.[citation needed] The 10,000 metres was conducted at the Zatopek Classic, Melbourne on 18 December 1998 and the men's decathlon event was staged at the Hobart Grand Prix on 21 – 22 February.[citation needed]
1 June –
Susie Maroney becomes the first person to swim from Mexico to Cuba, setting a new world distance ocean swimming record.[135]
12 July –
Greg Lyons wins the men's national marathon title, clocking 2:17:00 in
Brisbane, while
Lisa Dick claims her second women's title in 2:36:54.[136]
26 December – The
1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race begins with warnings of a severe storm expecting to produce 40-knot winds, rain and mountainous swells during the first night.[137][138][139] An hour after the starter's gun, the
Bureau of Meteorology issues a priority storm warning for coastal waters south of
Merimbula, which is expected to produce gales of up to 55 knots the following day.[139] Despite the warnings, the race continues which results in six fatalities, the destruction of five yachts and the rescue of 55 sailors.[139]
^
abcdMacDonald, Janine (3 February 1998).
"Company says it's sorry for cashing in on flood". The Age. p. 2. Retrieved 24 April 2023. The body of a third person to drown in the flood was found yesterday morning...
^Roberts, Greg; Tingle, Laura (26 June 1998).
"PM tells One Nation: you'll vote Labor in". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 23 April 2023. The Queensland Premier, Mr Borbidge, conceded and resigned his commission after Labor secured the support of Independent MP, Mr Peter Wellington, to form a government around 2pm yesterday.
^
abMillett, Michael; Tingle, Laura (14 August 1998).
"Family matters". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
^Silvester, John; Conroy, Paul; Munro, Ian; Walker, D. M.; Gibson, Rachel (17 August 1998).
"Slain in cold blood". The Age. pp. 1–3. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
^Wood, Leonie; Strong, Geoff (26 September 1998).
"Gas shutdown". The Age. p. 1. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
^Strong, Geoff (27 September 1998).
"The Gippsland disaster a vision of hell". The Sunday Age. p. 7. Retrieved 23 April 2023. ...the destruction that had killed two men...
^O'Rourke, Jim; Cumming, Fia; Mitchell, Alex; Walker, Frank; Crisp, Lyndall; Chulov, Martin; Toohey, Brian; Potts, Brian (4 October 1998).
"Howard defiant after narrow win: 'A mandate for my GST'". The Sun-Herald. pp. 1–13. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
^Martin, Bruno (2014).
"Cape-Gauge Australian Record Breakers: Queensland's Tilt Trains". Railways Africa. No. 2. p. 13. Retrieved 23 April 2023. Queensland Rail entered a new era of long-distance train travel on 6 November 1998 when electric tilt train set 301/302 carrying the name of City of Rockhampton was taken into revenue service from Rockhampton...
^"20th anniversary of the Tilt Trains". Queensland Rail. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2023. Timeline... 6 November 1998 – Inaugural Tilt Train service Brisbane to Rockhampton
^Humphries, David; Millett, Michael (13 November 1998).
"States reject GST offer". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
^McPherson, Tahlia (7 September 2016).
"Albury Civic Fire Station celebrates 100 years on Kiewa Street". The Border Mail. Retrieved 23 April 2023. ...a fire at the Country Comfort reinforced the importance of modern alarm systems. The 1998 blaze broke out in a bin...
^Buch, Neville (19 December 2018).
"On this day... Wednesday December 19, 2018". Dr Neville Buch - Professional historian. Retrieved 23 April 2023. On Saturday 19 December 1998, A fire breaks out at the Country Comfort hotel in Albury, New South Wales, spreading up to the top floor.
^Oliver, Robin (9 February 1998).
"Teletubby takeover". The Sydney Morning Herald. pp. 57–58. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
^Bayley, Andrew (24 April 2013).
"The Top End scores a Ten". Television.AU. Retrieved 24 April 2023. is the first new channel to commence operation in Darwin since Seven Darwin (now Southern Cross Darwin) commenced operation in March 1998.
^"NT News TV Guide: Friday 27 March 1998". Television.AU. 27 March 1998. Retrieved 24 April 2023. The launch of Seven Darwin, the city's second commercial station, broadcasting on UHF Channel 34
^Browne, Ashley (27 September 1998).
"How North lost the pole position". The Age. p. 36-37. Retrieved 30 April 2023. Leading the way was Andrew McLeod... went all the way to the post-match podium where he received his second-straight Norm Smith medal.
^Lyon, Garry (13 September 1998).
"Star on the rise". The Age. p. 31. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
^Cockerill, Michael (17 May 1998).
"Souths chase away Blues". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 107. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
^Brown, Alex (27 December 1998).
"Calm before the storm". The Sun-Herald. pp. 86–87. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
^
abcKennedy, Alan; Lagan, Bernard; Darby, Andrew; Brown, Malcolm; Jamieson, Tim; Bearup, Greg; Clennell, Andrew (30 December 1998).
"Mayday: The Sydney to Hobart disaster". The Sydney Morning Herald. pp. 1, 6–7. Retrieved 30 April 2023.