Documenting Democracy

Timeline 1952–2001

1952		Queen Elizabeth II ascends to the throne United Kingdom tests atomic bomb at Monte Bello Island, off Western Australia

1953		Royal Style and Titles Act 1953 (Cth) A new Queen is monarch 'Of the United Kingdom, Australia and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith' Flags Act 1953 (Cth) Who made our flag official – Queen Elizabeth II, or her great-grandfather? United Kingdom tests atomic bomb at Emu Field, north-western South Australia

1954		First Royal Tour of Australia by reigning monarch when Queen Elizabeth II visits Australia Royal Commission on Espionage after defection of Soviet diplomats Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov Soviet Union breaks off diplomatic relations with Australia Base established at Mawson by Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE)

1955		Cocos (Keeling) Islands becomes Commonwealth territory

1956		High Court decision in Boilermakers Case replaces Court of Conciliation and Arbitration with Conciliation and Arbitration Commission British atomic tests begin on Aboriginal lands after a new site chosen at Maralinga in South Australia

1957		National Capital Development Commission Act (Cth) To complete the capital

1958		Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean transferred to Australian administration Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines founded (later FCAATSI)

1959		Australian population reaches nine million Australia signs Antarctic Treaty promoting international cooperation in scientific research

1962		Federal voting rights extended to adult Aboriginal people Indonesia annexes western New Guinea and names it Irian Jaya

1963		Yirrkala bark petitions 1963 (Cth) Two traditions of law meet for the first time in Canberra

1964		National Service resumes – young men selected by birthdate lottery Commonwealth grants to non-government schools introduces 'State aid'

1965		Australia sends troops to Vietnam to support US forces

1966		Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966 (SA) South Australian Aboriginal land in trust Immigration laws changed to allow entry of non-Europeans – end of the 'White Australia' policy Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies resigns after record term of sixteen years Gurindji people protest at Wattie Creek Northern Territory

1967		Referendum to alter Section 51.xxvi and repeal Section 127 of the Australian Constitution successful. This amendment enables the Commonwealth government to make laws for Aboriginal people and to count them in the Census Plebiscite in northern New South Wales for new State of New England defeated

1968		Twelve-mile fishing limit around Australia, Nauru, Papua and New Guinea established Commonwealth grants independence to Nauru Right of appeal to Privy Council from High Court ended

1969		Arbitration Commission handed down decision to progressively implement equal pay for women

1970		Aboriginal Lands Act 1970 (Vic) The fight for Ramahyuck Moratorium Day demonstrations against Australia's participation in Vietnam War

1971		Aboriginal people included in the Census for the first time; Australia's population 12.8 million Senator Neville Bonner first Aboriginal member of any Australian parliament Gove Land Rights Case decided

1972		Withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam Gough Whitlam Prime Minister in first Labor Party Federal Government for 23 years Aboriginal people establish 'tent embassy' in Canberra

1973		Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973 (Cth) Setting submarine boundaries Amendment to Nationality and Citizenship Act means Australians are no longer British subjects Royal Style and Titles Act 1973 (Cth) A souvenir of the first Royal Tour of the Queen of Australia Senate (Representation of Territories) Act 1973 (Cth) Two Senators apiece

1974		The Northern Territory's first fully elected Legislative Assembly meets Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin Australian Capital Territory Representation (House Of Representatives) Act 1974 (Cth) A second Member for the ACT A fully elected 18-seat ACT Legislative Assembly established

1975		Australia grants independence to Papua New Guinea Commonwealth Government introduces Medibank, first national health insurance scheme Parliament increased from 183 to 189 so the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory have two Senators and one Member each in the House of Representatives Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismisses Whitlam Government; and appoints Malcolm Fraser Prime Minister High Court rules that Federal government has sovereign rights over Australia's territorial seas and continental shelf Race Discrimination Act (Cth) Gurindji people win title to part of their traditional lands at Wattie Creek Northern Territory

1976		Aboriginal Land Rights Northern Territory Act 1976 (Cth) From Amoonguna to Yuendumu Sir Douglas Nicholls becomes first Aboriginal State Governor (South Australia)

1977		Referendum to replace Section 15 and alter Section 72 and Section 128 of the Australian Constitution successful on all three questions

1978		Acts Amendment Constitution Act 1978 (WA) The people's constitution – Western Australia's referendum power Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 (Cth) Northern citizenship Local Government Act 1978 (NT) Community government ACT voters say ‘No’ to self-government

1979		Australian Federal Police formed, combining the Commonwealth Police, the Australian Capital Territory police, and the Federal Narcotics Bureau

1980		Coastal Waters (State Powers) Act 1980 (Cth) Adjusting the Federation under the seas New High Court building in Canberra opened by Queen Elizabeth II

1981		Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 (SA) Pitjantjatjara lands returned

1982		Torres Strait Islanders, led by Eddie Mabo, seek legal recognition of ownership of their traditional lands

1983		High Court upholds Commonwealth authority in Franklin Dam Case Sex Discrimination Act (Cth) passed Maralinga Tjatjura Act (Cth) returns to Aboriginal people land resumed in 1953 for atomic weapons testing

1984		Advance Australia Fair becomes national anthem

1985		Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (Land Holding) Act 1985 (Qld) Queensland's trust – the DOGIT Aboriginal people gain title to Uluru and Kata Tjuta area; becomes national park

1986		All the States, and Britain, pass Australia Acts to come into operation simultaneously with Commonwealth legislation Australia Act 1986 (Cth) Alone at last – old constitutional ties undone Mary Gaudron QC first woman appointed to the High Court

1988		New Commonwealth Parliament House opened by Queen Elizabeth II Celebrations held for the Bicentenary of the founding of New South Wales, the first British Colony in Australia ACT (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth) Creating a new body politic

1989		Self-government established in Australian Capital Territory

1992		Mabo v Queensland No. 2 1992 (Cth) A glimpse into the longest document shaping the Commonwealth's first century ACT Supreme Court Transfer Act 1992 (Cth) Deeming a transfer

1993		Native Title Act (Cth) passed

1994		ACT Proportional Representation (Hare-Clark) Entrenchment Act 1994 (ACT) Making a solid electoral system

1995		Aboriginal Lands Act 1995 (Tas) Reconciliation at last?

1996		High Court determines Wik Case The Governor-General, Sir William Deane, proclaims 3 September as Australian National Flag Day

1998		Constitutional Convention in Canberra recommends Australia become a republic Australia's population is 18.7 million

1999		'No' vote wins in referendum on Australian Republic; Australia remains a constitutional monarchy

2001		Centenary of Federation Anglican Archbishop Dr Peter Hollingworth becomes the first minister of religion appointed as Australia’s Governor-General On 11 September 2001, Terrorist airplanes destroy the World Trade Centre in New York and damage the Pentagon in Washington. The following month US forces in a coalition including Australia launch a 'war on terrorism' with an attack on Afghanistan, targetting Taliban forces and Al-Qaeda terrorist groups.

60,000 BC to 1836 | 1837 to 1899 | 1900 to 1926 | 1927 to 1951 | 1952 to 2001 | 2002 onwards

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