Australia's Democratic Story

Timeline: 1952 to 2001

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1952 to 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

 

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

 

1974

The Northern Territory's first fully elected Legislative Assembly meets

Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

1993

Native Title Act (Cth)passed

 

1995

Aboriginal Land Act 1995 (Tas)
Reconciliation at last?

 

1996

High Court determines Wik Case

 

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

 

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