1980 in Australia

See also:

Incumbents

February 23 - The Liberal/National coalition government of Sir Charles Court is re-elected in Western Australia.
March 24 - The Australian Olympic Federation announces it will send an Olympic delegation to Moscow, despite objections raised by the Prime Minister.
June 7 - Paul Everingham's Country Liberal Party government is re-elected in the Northern Territory.
August 17 - Azaria Chamberlain disappears from a campsite at Ayers Rock (Uluru), reportedly taken by a dingo.
October 18 - The federal election sees Malcolm Fraser's Liberal/National coalition government re-elected for a third consecutive term, albeit with an almost halved majority.
November 29 - In Queensland, the National Party government of Joh Bjelke-Petersen is re-elected.

January 17 - Gippsland's GLV-10 becomes GLV-8. This is done so that Melbourne's ATV-0 can become ATV-10.
January 20 - ATV-0 becomes ATV-10. This move promts the 0-10 Network to change its name to Network Ten, although Brisbane's TVQ-0 would continue to broadcast on Channel 0 until 1988. On the same night, Ten's new drama series Arcade premieres. It is regarded as the biggest flop in Australian television history, costing over $3 million to make & being axed after 49 episodes.
October 24 - SBS commences transmission in Sydney & Melbourne on VHF Channel 0 & UHF Channel 28, becoming the first station in Australia to use UHF frequencies.

July 8 - Queensland defeat New South Wales 20-10 in the first Rugby League State of Origin match, played at Lang Park (now Suncorp Stadium) in Brisbane.
September 27 - The Canterbury Bulldogs defeat the Eastern Suburbs Roosters (now Sydney Roosters) 18-4 to win the 73rd NSWRL premiership. It is the first premiership for Canterbury since 1942 & the last ever grand final played on a Saturday. In the process, Steve Gearin scores one of the most spectacular tries in history.
September 27 - On the same day, the Richmond Tigers (23.21.159) defeat the Collingwood Magpies (9.24.78) to win the 84th VFL/AFL premiership. It is the most recent premiership win for Richmond.
October 5 - Alan Jones becomes the second Australian driver to win the Formula One World Drivers Championship after winning the final race of the season at Watkins Glen, New York.
December 13 - The Illawarra Steelers are accepted as the 13th team in the NSWRL premiership for 1982, making them the first team from outside the Sydney metropolitan area to compete in the competition since Newcastle in 1909.