1975 in Australia

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• Monarch – Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – Sir John Kerr
• Prime Minister – Gough Whitlam (until 11 November), then Malcolm Fraser
• Deputy Prime Minister – Jim Cairns (until 2 July), then Frank Crean (until 11 November), then Doug Anthony
• Opposition Leader – Billy Snedden (until 21 March), then Malcolm Fraser (until 11 November), then Gough Whitlam
• Chief Justice – Sir Garfield Barwick

• Premier of New South Wales – Sir Robert Askin (until 3 January), then Tom Lewis
• Opposition Leader – Neville Wran
• Premier of Queensland – Joh Bjelke-Petersen
• Opposition Leader – Tom Burns
• Premier of South Australia – Don Dunstan
• Opposition Leader – Bruce Eastick (until 24 July), then David Tonkin
• Premier of Tasmania – Eric Reece (until 31 March), then Bill Neilson
• Opposition Leader – Max Bingham
• Premier of Victoria – Rupert Hamer
• Opposition Leader – Clyde Holding
• Premier of Western Australia – Sir Charles Court
• Opposition Leader – John Tonkin
• Majority Leader of the Northern Territory – Goff Letts

• Governor of New South Wales – Sir Roden Cutler
• Governor of Queensland – Sir Colin Hannah
• Governor of South Australia – Sir Mark Oliphant
• Governor of Tasmania – Sir Stanley Burbury
• Governor of Victoria – Sir Henry Winneke
• Governor of Western Australia – Sir Hughie Edwards (until 2 April), then Sir Wallace Kyle (from 24 November)
• Administrator of Norfolk Island – Edward Pickerd (until 31 August), then Charles Buffett
• Administrator of the Northern Territory – Jock Nelson (until 12 November)
• High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea – Tom Critchley (until 16 September)

• 1–31 January – Bushfires burn in various parts of New South Wales and Victoria.{{cite news|date=1 January 1975|title=Soldiers flown to bushfire in west|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-soldiers-flown/158761027/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=12|access-date=10 November 2024}}{{cite news|date=2 January 1975|title=120 battle bushfire near Benalla|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-120-battle-bushfire-near-benalla/158761056/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=10 November 2024}}{{cite news|date=4 January 1975|title=Bushfires sweep towards Victorian border|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-bushfires-sweep-towards-victoria/158761105/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=10 November 2024}}{{cite news|date=6 January 1975|title=South-west cornered by bushfires|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-south-west-cor/158761126/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=10 November 2024}}{{cite news|date=8 January 1975|title=300 fight fires fanned by strong winds|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-300-fight-fire/158761139/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=10 November 2024}}{{cite news|date=9 January 1975|title=Fire chief dies while fighting blaze|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-fire-chief-dies-while-fighting-b/158761159/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=10 November 2024}}{{cite news|date=11 January 1975|title=Two states battle border blaze|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-two-states-battle-border-blaze/158761186/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=10 November 2024}}{{cite news|last1=Cameron|first1=Bob|last2=Scott|first2=Phil|date=26 January 1975|title=Havoc on Black Saturday: Fires, gales hit Sydney|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-havoc-on-black/158111214/|work=The Sun-Herald|pages=1–3|access-date=10 November 2024}}
• 1 January –
• In the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy, Northern Territory administrator Jock Nelson criticises Major General Alan Stretton's plan to recommend that emergency directors be given absolute authority in areas affected by disasters.{{cite news|date=2 January 1975|title=Absolute powers urged in disasters|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-absolute-power/153507083/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=18 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025353/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-absolute-power/153507083/|url-status=live}} Nelsen is supported by NT police commissioner William McLaren and Darwin mayor Harold Brennan.
• Davis Hughes, Kenneth McCaw, William Tyree, Oliver Gillard, William Shearer, William Philip, Thomas Webb, Theodor Bray, James Foots, Douglas Tooth and John Parker are awarded the title of knight bachelor in the 1975 New Year Honours.{{cite news|date=2 January 1975|title=Australia has 11 new knights|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/papua-new-guinea-post-courier-australia/153512807/|work=Papua New Guinea Post-Courier|page=8|access-date=18 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025354/https://www.newspapers.com/article/papua-new-guinea-post-courier-australia/153512807/|url-status=live}}
• 2 January – As Darwin begins to be rebuilt following Cyclone Tracy, Anglican bishop Ian Shevill writes an opinion piece for The Sydney Morning Herald in which he questions the viability of rebuilding the city in an area that is likely to experience future natural disasters.{{cite news|last=Shevill|first=Ian|date=2 January 1975|title=Do we need a Darwin? Pondering the neat and nice solution|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-do-we-need-a-d/153507337/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=6|access-date=18 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025522/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-do-we-need-a-d/153507337/|url-status=live}}
• 3 January – New South Wales premier Sir Robert Askin retires from politics and is succeeded by Tom Lewis.{{cite news|date=3 January 1975|title=Askin's reign ends today|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-askins-reign/153507682/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=18 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025522/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-askins-reign/153507682/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=O'Hara|first=John|date=4 January 1975|title=Lewis launches new style of government|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-lewis-launches/153508330/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=18 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025356/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-lewis-launches/153508330/|url-status=live}}
• 5 January – The Tasman Bridge disaster occurs in Hobart when the Tasman Bridge is struck by the ore carrier MV Lake Illawarra.{{cite news|date=6 January 1975|title=Ship smashes bridge - Cars plunge into river, 10,000-ton carrier sinks in minutes|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-ship-smashes-bridge-cars-plunge/153505205/|work=The Age|pages=1–2|access-date=18 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025357/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-ship-smashes-bridge-cars-plunge/153505205/|url-status=live}} The bridge partially collapses onto the vessel, which sinks.{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Michael|last2=Clarke|first2=Kevin|date=7 January 1975|title=Tombstone pylons guard the mystery of the Illawarra|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-tombstone-pylons-guard-the-myste/153505900/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=18 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025524/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-tombstone-pylons-guard-the-myste/153505900/|url-status=live}} Seven crew and five motorists are killed.{{cite news|date=8 January 1975|title=Bridge disaster toll rises to 12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-bridge-disaster-toll-rises-to-12/153506187/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=18 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025528/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-bridge-disaster-toll-rises-to-12/153506187/|url-status=live}}
• 6 January – Prime Minister Gough Whitlam meets with his French counterpart Jacques Chirac in Paris, but confirms Australia would offer no apologies for its opposition to the 1971–74 French nuclear tests in the Pacific.{{cite news|last=Frykberg|first=Ian|date=8 January 1975|title=PM has discussions with French leaders: No apology over A-test dispute, says Whitlam|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-pm-has-discuss/158758428/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=9|access-date=10 November 2024}}
• 7 January – An Executive Council Minute authorising the raising of a "temporary loan" of US$4,000 million for 20 years is reversed before it becomes public knowledge. The move to bypass the Loans Council – to become known as the "Loans Affair" – had been initiated a month earlier by several labor ministers without consulting cabinet.
• 8–29 January – New South Wales experiences a three-week period of unreliable electricity supply after "militant" unionists impose bans on Electricity Commission employees maintaining power stations across the state during an ongoing pay dispute.{{cite news|date=9 January 1975|title=NSW faces threat of blackouts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-nsw-faces-thre/153506732/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=19 September 2024}}{{cite news|date=10 January 1975|title=Most homes in NSW hit by blackouts|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-most-homes-in/153508603/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=19 September 2024}}{{cite news|date=13 January 1975|title=Power cuts: fate rests on union-Govt talks|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-power-cuts-fa/155584165/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=19 September 2024}}{{cite news|date=17 January 1975|title=Power crisis worsens|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-power-crisis-w/155584214/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=19 September 2024}}{{cite news|last=Wells|first=Fred|date=23 January 1975|title=Power workers refuse to end repair bans|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-power-workers/155584475/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=19 September 2024}}{{cite news|last=Wells|first=Fred|date=24 January 1975|title=Lift bans, power men told|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-lift-bans-pow/155584489/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=19 September 2024}} The New South Wales government are forced to implement measures such as industrial zoning, a three-day week and a ban on electricity for non-essential industry in Sydney.{{cite news|date=18 January 1975|title=Three-day week looms as power output slides|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-three-day-week/155584238/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=19 September 2024}}{{cite news|date=21 January 1975|title=Black day for Sydney: 400,000 to take pay cut|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-black-day-for/155584289/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=19 September 2024}} The crisis is finally resolved at a stopwork meeting held at the Gosford Showground on 29 January.{{cite news|last=Wells|first=Fred|date=30 January 1975|title=Power men end bans|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-power-men-end/155584513/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=19 September 2024}}
• 13 January – Music conductor Sir Bernard Heinze is announced as 1974's Australian of the Year.{{cite news|date=14 January 1975|title=Sir Bernard Heinze is Australian of the Year|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-sir-bernard-he/155071331/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912030234/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-sir-bernard-he/155071331/|url-status=live}}
• 14 January – A major fire occurs in the Sydney CBD.{{cite news|date=15 January 1975|title=Thousands flee city centre store blaze|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-thousands-flee/155123162/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|pages=1, 3|access-date=12 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025913/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-thousands-flee/155123162/|url-status=live}} For over five hours, fire brigades battle to control the blaze at Cost Less Imports in the four-storey Angus & Robertson building at 89 Castleagh Street. Thousands of people are evacuated and nearby shops are closed as the fire engulfs the building. Approximately 20 fire fighters are treated by ambulance officers after being overcome by smoke.
• 19 January – Sydney's 2JJ, the ABC's new youth station and the predecessor of Triple J, commences broadcasting.{{cite news|last=Plummer|first=Dale|date=19 January 1975|title=Banned record debut|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-banned-record/153510228/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=77|access-date=26 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025914/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-banned-record/153510228/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|date=20 January 1975|title=FM goes into stereo as 2JJ rocks along|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-fm-goes-into-s/153509800/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=10|access-date=26 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025914/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-fm-goes-into-s/153509800/|url-status=live}}
• 20 January – A four-year-old boy is killed when he is hit by a motorcycle after a member of the Astro Daredevil team performs a stunt in the grounds of a hotel on the Gold Coast.{{cite news|date=21 January 1975|title=Stunt motorcycle kills boy|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-stunt-motorcyc/155584307/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=19 September 2024}} The rider is ultimately acquitted of a charge of unlawfully killing the boy when a criminal court jury is directed in September 1976 to find him not guilty due to insufficient evidence.{{cite news|date=25 September 1976|title=Stunt rider cleared on boy's death|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-stunt-rider-cl/155584380/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=19 September 2024}}
• 26 January – The Workers Party is launched at a banquet at the Sydney Opera House where Lang Hancock is the guest of honour.{{cite news|date=27 January 1975|title=Govt 'villain' in eyes of new party|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-govt-villain/153953706/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=25 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025915/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-govt-villain/153953706/|url-status=live}} The party is libertarian in principle, demanding less government intervention, as well as being virulently anti-Socialist. The name is subsequently changed to the Progress Party in 1977.

• 1 February – Having commenced broadcasting in December 1974, Australia's first FM radio station 2MBS is officially launched in Sydney by prime minister Gough Whitlam and premier Tom Lewis.{{cite news|date=2 February 1975|title=FM radio expands|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-fm-radio-expan/153509960/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=21|access-date=25 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912020740/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-fm-radio-expan/153509960/|url-status=live}}
• 3 February –
• Two RAAF jets on a training flight off the New South Wales North Coast receive a distress signal, which lead them to two sailors stranded in a liferaft who had survived the sinking of their eight-metre sloop the night before.{{cite news|date=4 February 1975|title=Jets find two men adrift|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-jets-find-two/155829010/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=23 September 2024}} The sailors are eventually retrieved by a 15,000-tonne tanker that was located approximately 20 kilometres away.
• Eleven 12-year-old students and their 22-year-old teacher were injured when a gas line explodes in a science laboratory at Busby High School in the Sydney suburb of Green Valley.{{cite news|date=4 February 1975|title=12 injured in school gas blast|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-12-injured-in/155828986/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=23 September 2024}}
• 7 February –
• An 11-year-old boy dies after being attacked by a shark at Point Sinclair in South Australia.{{cite news|last=Dunlevy|first=Maurice|date=9 February 1975|title=Shark kills boy, 11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-shark-kills-bo/155836158/|work=The Sun-Herald|pages=1–2|access-date=23 September 2024}}
• During a statewide 24-hour strike by the Queensland Municipal Officers Association, Toowoomba City Council mayor Nell Robinson famously sits at a small table in the foyer of City Hall and handles all administrative duties, including the collection of fines and rates.{{cite news|date=8 February 1975|title=Carry on Alderman Robinson|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-carry-on-alder/155830454/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=23 September 2024}}
• 8 February – Off duty police officers are stationed at the home of Lang Hancock in the Perth suburb of Dalkeith with strict security checks being performed as he holds a 21st birthday party for his daughter Gina.{{cite news|date=9 February 1975|title=Police keep tight guard at party for heiress|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-police-keep-ti/155836266/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=4|access-date=23 September 2024}}
• 9 February – Lionel Murphy resigns to become a High Court judge (a move for which Garfield Barwick's appointment had set a precedent).{{cite news|last=Frykberg|first=Ian|date=10 February 1975|title=Murphy for High Court: Sudden resignation from Senate; minor Cabinet reshuffle likely|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-murphy-for-hig/153954049/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=25 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912020741/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-murphy-for-hig/153954049/|url-status=live}}
• 11 February – New South Wales Premier Tom Lewis decides to replace Lionel Murphy in the Senate with a non-Labor nominee.{{cite news|last=O'Hara|first=John|date=27 February 2024|title=Labor may test poll for Senate|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-labor-may-test/153954114/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=25 August 2024}} Cabinet unanimously endorses his decision with Albury's 77-year-old mayor, Cleaver Bunton selected, thus reducing Labor to 28 in the Senate.{{cite news|date=28 February 1975|title=NSW gets senator in 1½ hours of turmoil|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-nsw-gets-senat/153954169/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|pages=1–2|access-date=25 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912020742/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-nsw-gets-senat/153954169/|url-status=live}} The move is seen as breaking constitutional convention and was against the advice of senior Liberals and most Premiers.
• 13 February – The federal minister for the Northern Territory Rex Patterson announces that the Darwin Relief Fund has approved immediate payments of $10,000 for the widows of Cyclone Tracy, while each child under 16 will receive $1000.{{cite news|date=14 February 1975|title=Darwin widows to get $10,000|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-darwin-widows/155902073/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=24 September 2024}} Payments of $5,000 had also been approved to families where the wife had been killed in the cyclone and an additional $2,500 approved for each child killed.
• 24 February – On the final day of the three-day state Labor conference in Launceston, Tasmanian premier Eric Reece announces his resignation.{{cite news|date=25 February 1975|title=Reece changes his mind and stays|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-reece-changes/156983665/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=12 October 2024}} The announcement came after a vote in which Labor ruled that people aged 65 or over could not be endorsed as an ALP candidate at the next state election, likely voiding Reece's eligibility. However, four hours later Reece announces he has changed his mind after delegates unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Reece and ask him to stay until the end of his term.
• 27 February – Prime Minister Gough Whitlam's failure to support Speaker Jim Cope in a ruling involving Clyde Cameron led to the Speaker's resignation and his replacement by Gordon Scholes.{{cite news|last=Bowers|first=Peter|date=28 February 1975|title=Cope: debacle for Labor|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-cope-debacle/153954249/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|pages=1–2|access-date=25 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912020743/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-cope-debacle/153954249/|url-status=live}} Cope had been having difficulty with the Opposition's increasing larrikinism.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

• 12 March – Chargé d'affaires Graeme Lewis is killed when the Air Vietnam Douglas C-54 he was a passenger on crashed during a flight between Vientiane and Saigon, killing all on board.{{cite news|date=14 March 1975|title=Australian envoy lost in warzone|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-australian-env/156973711/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=12 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=21 March 1975|title=Memorial service|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-memorial-servi/156981594/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=12|access-date=12 October 2024}}
• 13 March – Four American businessmen and their Australian pilot are killed instantly when the Cessna 310 they were onboard crashed on Fitzroy Station in the Northern Territory, between Katherine and Kununurra.{{cite news|date=14 March 1975|title=5 die in light plane crash|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-5-die-in-light/156973671/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=12 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=15 March 1975|title=Bodies of air crash victims recovered|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-bodies-of-air-crash-victims-reco/156981712/|work=The Age|page=11|access-date=12 October 2024}} All four businessmen were representatives of subsidiaries of the Standard Oil Company.
• 14 March – ABC Radio producer Peter Whitlock who had been working in Thailand becomes trapped in the South Vietnamese city of Buôn Ma Thuột when it comes under heavy attack from communist forces.{{cite news|date=15 March 1975|title=Siege traps Australian|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-siege-traps-au/156973480/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=13 October 2024}}
• 16 March – A young child is stabbed twice in the back by a man as she played in a park in the Sydney suburb of Newtown.{{cite news|date=17 March 1975|title=Girl, 6, stabbed by man in Newtown park|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-girl-6-stabb/156974146/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=12 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=19 March 1975|title=Stabbing: police hunt Yugoslav|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-stabbing-poli/156974350/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=12 October 2024}} She is taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a stable condition.
• 18 March –
• The Victorian Government appoints the Beach Board of Inquiry to report on allegations of misconduct against the police force.{{cite news|date=19 March 1975|title=Inquiry into police to begin next Wednesday|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-inquiry-into-police-to-begin-nex/153954541/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=25 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912020820/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-inquiry-into-police-to-begin-nex/153954541/|url-status=live}}
• Tasmanian premier Eric Reece again announces his resignation.{{cite news|date=19 March 1975|title=Reece resigns - and this time it's definite|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-reece-resigns-and-this-time-it/156983590/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=12 October 2024}} The announcement comes after Reece initially announced his resignation at the state Labor conference in Launceston in February before changing his mind four hours later. Reece now confirms he will leave the role at the end of March to be succeeded by Bill Neilson.
• It's reported 47 women are to lose their jobs at Thomas Nationwide Transport as the company plans to outsource its computer work to Singapore.{{cite news|date=18 March 1975|title=47 women lose jobs: work goes to Singapore|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-47-women-lose/156974995/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=12 October 2024}} Chairman of TNT Sir Peter Abeles defends the move and claims the company had attempted to find new jobs for the women but none of them had accepted any new positions.
• The Department of Foreign Affairs asks the ambassador of Australia to North Vietnam David Wilson to make official enquires about missing ABC Radio producer Peter Whitlock who is believed to be under house arrest in Buôn Ma Thuột in South Vietnam, which was overrun by Viet Cong troops earlier in the month.{{cite news|date=19 March 1975|title=ABC man held in South Vietnam|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-abc-man-held-i/157036720/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=13 October 2024}}
• Federal transport minister Charles Jones confirms Concorde will be allowed into Australia for at least three proving flights in either July or August.{{cite news|date=19 March 1975|title=Concorde to have flights over Australia|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-concorde-to-ha/156975489/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=12 October 2024}}
• 19 March – 20-year-old bank teller William Rice is shot dead during an armed robbery at an ANZ Bank branch in the Sydney suburb of Bondi.{{cite news|date=20 March 1975|title=Young teller shot dead at bank: man charged|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-young-teller-s/156976112/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=12 October 2024}} In April 1977, Gary Findlay pleads guilty to murdering Rice and to also having wounded 72-year-old Thomas Edward Douglas Watson with intent to murder two days earlier.{{cite news|date=27 April 1977|title=Parole murderer gets life - twice|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-parole-murdere/156977458/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=12|access-date=12 October 2024}} Findlay is sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment. Findlay was on parole when the offences were committed, having been sentenced in 1970 to 10 years in jail on each of three counts of armed robbery but was released on parole in November 1973.
• 20 March –
• Deputy prime minister Jim Cairns, Minister for Agriculture Ken Wriedt and Iranian government ministers jointly announce that Australia and Iran had negotiated to strengthen economic ties, with Australia agreeing to sell uranium to Iran "under favourable conditions" while Iran agrees to joint ventures in mining and agriculture{{cite news|date=21 March 1975|title=Iran to get Australian uranium|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-iran-to-get-au/156976709/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=12 October 2024}}
• Charmain Brent confirms she is filing for divorce from her husband Ronald Biggs.{{cite news|date=21 March 1975|title=Biggs divorce move|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-biggs-divorce/156976998/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=13 October 2024}} Brent has remained in Australia with their two sons while Biggs is now living in Brazil with his girlfriend and their seven-month-old son.
• 21 March – The 1975 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill occurs which sees Malcolm Fraser replace Billy Snedden as the leader of the Liberal Party, winning the party room ballot 37:27.{{cite news|last=Bowers|first=Peter|date=22 March 1975|title=Fraser ends election talk|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-fraser-ends-el/153954568/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=25 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912020745/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-fraser-ends-el/153954568/|url-status=live}} Phillip Lynch retains the deputy leadership.
• 22 March – Husband and wife Noel and Sophia Weckert are both murdered between Mackay and Rockhampton while travelling Queensland's Bruce Highway en route from Townsville to Emu Park.{{cite news|date=25 March 1975|title=Murder hunt: fear for wife|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-murder-hunt-fear-for-wife/156980849/|work=The Age|pages=1, 3|access-date=12 October 2024|quote=...was travelling with his wife from Townsville to Emu Park near Rockhampton to attend a skydiving rally}} In March 1976, Raymond John Wylie is found guilty of Noel Weckert's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment while Maxwell John Harper and Janice Christine Anne Payne are found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years hard labour.{{cite news|date=13 March 1976|title=Man gets life sentence for Weckert murder|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-man-gets-life/115878833/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=12 October 2024}} In February 1977, Wylie and Harper are both found guilty of Sophia Weckert's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment while Payne is sentenced to 10 years jail for manslaughter.{{cite news|date=24 February 1977|title=2 jailed on murder charge|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-2-jailed-on-mu/115879293/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=4|access-date=12 October 2024}}
• 26 March – 47-year-old Reginald Edward Issacs is found guilty of abducting, sexually assaulting and murdering 9-year-old Gregory Paul Cowie in the Wombat State Forest on 13 September 1974.{{cite news|date=27 March 1975|title=Man guilty of boy's murder, jury finds|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-man-guilty-of-boys-murder-jury/157039475/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=14 October 2024}} Justice Gowans sentences pronounces the statuary death sentence.{{cite news|date=27 March 1975|title=Sentence of death|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-sentence-of-de/157039459/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=14 October 2024}}{{cite news|last=Withington|first=David|date=27 March 1975|title=System failed, and a child was murdered|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-system-failed-and-a-child-was-m/157039520/|work=The Age|page=9|access-date=14 October 2024}}
• 30 March – Two men, aged 21 and 18, are killed when they are struck by lightning on a property near Ilford, New South Wales during a rabbit shooting trip.{{cite news|date=1 April 1975|title=Lightning kills two shooters|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-lightning-kill/157102541/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=14 October 2024}} A 17-year-old boy was seriously injured in the strike and was taken to hospital in Mudgee.{{cite news|date=2 April 1975|title=Lightning tragedy: youth goes home|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-lightning-trag/157102611/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=14 October 2024}}

• 3 April – Prime minister Gough Whitlam launches a public appeal for the Australian Council for Overseas Aid to help raise money for refugees from Vietnam and Indo-China, confirming the Australian Government would commit $50,000 to the cause.{{cite news|date=4 April 1975|title=Whitlam launches appeal: Govt gives $50,000|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-whitlam-launch/157168744/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=4|access-date=15 October 2024}} The Federal Government also confirms around 500 orphans from Vietnam would soon arrive in Australia.{{cite news|date=4 April 1975|title=500 orphans coming here: PM starts appeal with $50,000|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-500-orphans-co/157168707/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=15 October 2024}} A total of 226 families have already having been approved to adopt the orphans, with 270 adoptions applications in progress.
• 8 April – After 21 hours of bitter debate in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, a Bill to abolish the death penalty is passed 36:30, with 5 abstentions.{{cite news|last=English|first=David|date=9 April 1975|title=Assembly abolishes hanging|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-assembly-abolishes-hanging/153954703/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=25 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912020746/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-assembly-abolishes-hanging/153954703/|url-status=live}} To this end, Labor Council leader John Galbally had brought in 21 private members Bills in some 15 years. The abolition Bill must now pass the Legislative Council where lengthy debate and an even closer vote is expected.
• 11 April – Approximately 10,000 Water and Sewerage Employees Union members employed by the Sydney Water Board stop work and commence an indefinite strike as they demand a new industrial award conditions including a wage increase, permanency for employees after one year of service, free time for migrants to learn English and free work clothes after three months service.{{cite news|date=11 April 1975|title=Water men stop work|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-water-men-stop/157664261/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=26 October 2024}} Due to the strike, untreated sewage is permitted to flow into the sea from pumping stations at Cronulla, Malabar, Bondi and North Head.{{cite news|last=Wells|first=Fred|date=12 April 2024|title=Untreated sewage enters sea|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-untreated-sewa/157664360/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=26 October 2024}}
• 17 April – Senator Don Willesee announces the Australian Government will recognise the Royal Government of National Union of Cambodia following the Fall of Phnom Penh when Cambodian Government troops surrender to the Khmer Rouge.{{cite news|last=Frykberg|first=Ian|date=18 April 1975|title=Canberra accepts new regime|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-canberra-accep/157414672/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=19 October 2024}}
• 18 April – The residents of Darwin are given clearance to commence rebuilding their homes after the city was devastated by Cyclone Tracy with chairman of the Reconstruction Commission Tony Powell confirming the draft building code submitted to the interim commission under Leslie Thiess had been adopted by the Darwin Reconstruction Commission.{{cite news|date=19 April 1975|title=Darwin residents get rebuilding all-clear|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-darwin-residen/157414307/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=19 October 2024}}
• 19 April – The PRG fails to provide information about the whereabouts or the state of health of ABC Radio producer Peter Whitlock who became trapped in Buôn Ma Thuột when it fell to communist forces during the Battle of Ban Me Thuot more than a month ago.{{cite news|last=Richardson|first=Michael|date=21 April 1975|title=ABC man's fate still unknown|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-abc-mans-fate/157036756/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=13 October 2024}} When asked about Whitlock at his weekly press conference, Colonel Vo Dong Giang stated: "I am not aware of the concrete factors, that is why I regret I cannot answer you in a concrete way."
• 23 April –
• The Victorian Legislative Council votes to abolish the Death penalty in a 20–13 vote.{{cite news|date=24 April 1975|title=Hanging is finished in Victoria|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-hanging-is-finished-in-victoria/153954770/|work=The Age|pages=1, 3|access-date=25 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912021248/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-hanging-is-finished-in-victoria/153954770/|url-status=live}} All 9 labor members in the legislative council, 11 liberal members voted in favor. 7 liberals and all 6 Country voted against.{{Cite web |author= |date=2020-04-22 |title=From the Archives, 1975: Victoria abolishes hanging |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/from-the-archives-1975-victoria-abolishes-hanging-20200417-p54ktz.html |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=The Age |language=en |archive-date=12 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912030236/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/from-the-archives-1975-victoria-abolishes-hanging-20200417-p54ktz.html |url-status=live }}
• Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips arrive in Australia to commence a two-week royal tour of the country, beginning in Sydney and then continuing in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.{{cite news|date=24 April 1975|title=Princess begins her visit; Sydney arrival in rain|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-princess-begin/157541059/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=21 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=25 April 1975|title=Royal couple in SA|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-royal-couple-i/157541086/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=21 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=2 May 1975|title=Royal pair see cyclone damage|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-royal-pair-see/157464248/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=21 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=3 May 1975|title=Royal tour of WA|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-royal-tour-of/157540990/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=5|access-date=21 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=7 May 1975|title=Busy day in Perth for Royal couple|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-busy-day-in-pe/157541027/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=21 October 2024}}
• Prime minister Gough Whitlam and his wife Margaret leave Australia on a chartered Qantas Boeing 707 for an 18-day overseas trip which will include scheduled meetings with leaders in Peru, attending the 1975 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kingston, Jamaica and meeting with United States president Gerald Ford in Washington, D.C.{{cite news|author=|date=24 April 1975|title=Whitlams leave on 18-day trip|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-whitlams-leave/170844439/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=22 April 2025}}
• 24 April – Minister for Overseas Trade Frank Crean and Minister for Agriculture Senator Ken Wriedt announce that the Japanese Government has advised Australia that in June, Japan will re-open imports of Australian beef and veal which have been banned since an embargo took effect in early 1974.{{cite news|author=|date=25 April 1975|title=Japan takes meat|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-japan-takes-me/170844559/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|pages=1-2|access-date=22 April 2025}}
• 25 April –
• The 60th anniversary of the Landing at Anzac Cove is commemorated at Anzac Day services around Australia.{{cite news|date=26 April 1975|title=Back straight, medals shine for 60th Anzac anniversary|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-backs-straight/157541110/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|pages=1, 6|access-date=21 October 2024}}{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=John|date=26 April 1975|title=Muted people greet those old soldiers|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-muted-people-greet-those-old-sol/157541181/|work=The Age|page=4|access-date=21 October 2024}}{{cite news|title=March,ceremony draws thousands|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116344299/12743526|work=The Canberra Times|page=1|access-date=21 October 2024}}
• The Australian Embassy in South Vietnam is closed and staff evacuated prior to the Fall of Saigon.{{cite news|date=26 April 1975|title=Australia out, airlift stops|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-australia-out/153954820/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=25 August 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912021249/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-australia-out/153954820/|url-status=live}}

• 1 May – Following an 11-day trial, 41-year-old Alwyn Theodore Kleinig is sentenced in the Central Criminal Court to life imprisonment for the murder of Francis David Pye who died when the main homestead on Pye's property was destroyed by fire at Collie near Gilgandra, New South Wales on 18 April 1973.{{cite news|date=2 May 1975|title=Life term for killer of Gilgandra grazier|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-life-term-for/157664737/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=26 October 2024}}
• 2 May –
• James Ryan O'Neill is charged in Tasmania's Bellerive Court with murdering 9-year-old Ricky John Smith in February 1975 and then murdering 9-year-old Bruce Colin Wilson in April 1975.{{cite news|date=3 May 1975|title=Boys dead: charges laid|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-boys-dead-cha/157461982/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=20 October 2024}} O'Neill pleads not guilty to murdering the boys.{{cite news|date=10 May 1975|title=Two murder charges denied|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-two-murder-cha/157462309/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=20 October 2024}} However, at a trial in November 1975, O'Neill is tried and convicted of Smith's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.{{cite web|last=King|first=Barry|date=October 2014|title=Record of investigation into death|url=https://www.coronerscourt.wa.gov.au/_files/Taylor%20(James)%20finding.pdf|work=Coroners Court of Western Australia|pages=15–22|access-date=20 October 2024}} Despite being charged with Wilson's murder which he purportedly confessed to in a police interview, he was not tried due to a prosecution policy in Tasmania stipulating that persons charged with multiple murders could only be tried on one of the charges.
• Qantas announces it has doubled the size of no smoking areas on its aircraft, so that one-third of all seats will be designated no-smoking zones.{{cite news|date=3 May 1975|title=Curb on smokers|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-curb-on-smoker/157841774/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=5|access-date=26 October 2024}}
• 4 May – Several people are injured during a violent clash between pro-Palestinian supporters and pro-Israel supporters outside the Australian Union of Students headquarters in Melbourne.{{cite news|last=Allin|first=John|date=5 May 1975|title=Violent clash at Arab protest|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-violent-clash-at-arab-protest/157540772/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=21 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=5 May 1975|title=Man bitten on leg in Melbourne|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-man-bitten-on/157540779/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=21 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=9 May 1975|title=Sticks, stones in attack|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/262509678/29353075|work=The Australian Jewish News|page=2|access-date=21 October 2024}}
• 5 May – After the local council struggles to find an effective way to remove thousands of starlings which are roosting in the city of Wagga Wagga, a group of men consisting of local police officers and gun club members commence several days of an RSPCA-approved mass shooting of the birds.{{cite news|date=2 May 1975|title=Wagga declares war on starlings|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-wagga-declares/157540402/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=21 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=4 May 1975|title=Posse ready for shoot-out|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-posse-ready-fo/157540487/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=2|access-date=21 October 2024}} Approximately 150 birds are killed on the first day of shooting, while around another 600 are killed during the second day.{{cite news|date=6 May 1975|title=Wagga's starlings still rule roost|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-waggas-starli/157540514/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=21 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=7 May 1975|title=600 tally in starling shoot|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-600-tally-in-s/157540579/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=21 October 2024}}{{cite news|last=Aiton|first=Douglas|date=6 May 1975|title=Wagga starlings beat a royal flush but today the guns should call their bluff|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-wagga-starlings-beat-a-royal-flu/157540467/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=21 October 2024}}
• 8 May – New South Wales police minister John Waddy announces a new scheme in which police officers at school crossings are replaced by dedicated lollypop men and women had been approved following a successful three-month trial.{{cite news|date=9 May 1975|title=Lollipop men will guard school crossings; Police released to other duties|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-lollipop-men-w/157604166/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=22 October 2024}} Approximately 70 police officer are to re-deployed to other duties while Waddy says he expects the crossing supervisors to mainly consist of pensioners and housewives. The lollypop men and women will be paid $30 each week.
• 9 May – All 17 crew members are rescued from the cargo ship "Tropic Queen" after it sinks north-west of Port Hedland, Western Australia.{{cite news|date=11 May 1975|title=Captain's son hero after freighter sinks|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-captains-son/157665283/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=2|access-date=26 October 2024}}
• 10 May – A three-year-old girl is raped and murdered in her own bedroom the Brisbane suburb of Cribb Island.{{cite news|date=11 May 1975|title=Baby murdered in her bedroom|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-baby-murdered/157665336/|work=The Sun-Herald|access-date=26 October 2024}} 30-year-old Robert Douglas Skilton is convicted of her murder and sentenced on 3 October 1975 to life imprisonment.{{cite news|date=13 May 1975|title=Man remanded on charge of murder|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-man-remanded-on-charge-of-murder/157665395/|work=The Age|page=4|access-date=26 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=26 June 1975|title=Murder charge|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110643756|work=The Canberra Times|page=3|access-date=23 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=4 October 1975|title=Guilty|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110661259|work=The Canberra Times|access-date=26 October 2024}} In 1988, he was assessed as not being suitable for parole.{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Terry|date=5 December 2019|title=Findings of Inquest: Inquest into the death of Robert Douglas Skilton|url=https://www.courts.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/635372/cif-skilton-rd-20191205.pdf|work=Coroners Court of Queensland|access-date=23 October 2024}} He died of natural causes at the Wolston Correctional Centre on 28 April 2018.
• 12 May –
• After a protracted period of industrial action and negotiations lasting 32 days, a meeting is held involving all parties concerned where striking Sydney Water Board employees vote overwhelmingly to end their 32-day strike.{{cite news|date=21 April 2024|title=Talks fail to resolve Water Board dispute|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-talks-fail-to/157664441/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=26 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=24 April 1975|title=Deregistration move: Govt urged to act in Water Board dispute|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-deregistration/157664557/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=11|access-date=26 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=6 May 1975|title=Government moves on strike: Union will recommend Water Board's men return|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-government-mov/157664841/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=23 October 2024}}{{cite news|last=Wells|first=Fred|date=13 May 1975|title=Water men vote to end 32-day strike|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-water-men-vote/157665066/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=26 October 2024}}
• Melbourne's new ABC public access radio station 3ZZ goes to air for the first time.{{cite news|date=8 May 1975|title=Sounds of former homelands|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-sounds-of-former-homelands/158762630/|work=The Age|page=25|access-date=10 November 2024}}{{cite news|date=15 May 1975|title=Access brings "radio revolution"|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-access-brings-radio-revolution/158762654/|work=The Age|page=21|access-date=10 November 2024}}
• 13 May –
• The Federal Opposition attempts to censure prime minister Gough Whitlam for allegedly misleading parliament for comments he made in a statement on 9 April.{{cite news|date=14 May 1975|title=Censure bid flimsy, says PM: Messages to Vietnam defended|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-censure-bid-fl/157666384/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=26 October 2024}} The censure motion is defeated in the House of Representatives 69–63. In the senate, a censure motion against Foreign Affairs minister Senator Don Willesee was defeated after the vote was tied 28-all, with Liberal Movement leader Steele Hall and independent senator Cleaver Bunton voting with the government.
• A 61-year-old train driver and a 38-year-old railways inspector are killed when the Northern Tablelands Express collides with a semi-trailer carrying 290 sheep on a level crossing near Gunnedah, New South Wales.{{cite news|date=14 May 1975|title=Two killed as train, truck collide|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-two-killed-as/157666263/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=23 October 2024}} Four passengers aboard the train also suffer minor injurie but the 34-year-old truck driver and his two young children were unhurt. Around 50 sheep were also killed.
• 15 May –
• Ray McPharlin announces the Country Party of Western Australia has withdrawn from the coalition government it had formed with Western Australian Liberal Party due a series of policy differences on rural issues, forcing premier Charles Court to govern with a minority government.{{cite news|date=16 May 1975|title=Country Party pulls out of Govt in WA|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-country-party/157666583/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=26 October 2024}}
• A 49-year-old Sydney former newsagent is convicted by a jury on six charges of selling obscene and indecent publications.{{cite news|date=16 May 1975|title=Former newsagent weeps in court|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-former-newsage/157666628/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=23 October 2024}} He had pleaded not guilty to selling copies of Bitch and Venus to two vice squad detectives on 29 March 1974.{{cite news|date=15 May 1975|title=Shop man denies obscene literature|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-shop-man-denie/157666821/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=8|access-date=23 October 2024}} He is fined a total of $500.{{cite news|date=17 May 1975|title=$500 fine for selling obscene magazines|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-500-fine-for/157666839/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=23 October 2024}}
• 18 May – Following the Country Party of Western Australia's split from the coalition government, the leader and deputy leader of the party Ray McPharlin and Matt Stephens both resign and are succeeded by Dick Old and Peter Jones respectively.{{cite news|date=19 May 1975|title=CP leaders resign afters split in WA|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-cp-leaders-res/157727993/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=26 October 2024}}
• 19 May – Despite being transported to Hobart from Sydney, it's confirmed that the 62-year-old ferry Lady Ferguson will need to be scrapped after being found to have a rotten timber hull.{{cite news|date=20 May 1975|title=Ferry to be scrapped|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-ferry-to-be-sc/157728063/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=26 October 2024}} Parts from Lady Ferguson will be salvaged and used in another former Sydney ferry, Kosciusko.
• 20 May – The loans affair continues with the Executive Council revoking the approval it had given on 28 January for a US$2,000 million overseas loan.{{cite news|last1=Jost|first1=John|last2=Davidson|first2=Kenneth|date=22 May 1975|title=Connor's $2000m 'vanishes'|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-connors-2000m-vanishes/155053257/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912021351/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-connors-2000m-vanishes/155053257/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Clarke|first1=Anthony|last2=Cole-Adams|first2=Peter|last3=Jost|first3=John|last4=Thomas|first4=Tony|date=23 May 1975|title=I gave loan letter: Connor|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-i-gave-loan-letter-connor/155053045/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912021251/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-i-gave-loan-letter-connor/155053045/|url-status=live}} Henceforth, all negotiations are to be conducted through the Treasury.{{cite news|last=Frykberg|first=Ian|date=29 May 1975|title=PM rebukes Treasury|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-pm-rebukes-tre/155052885/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912021352/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-pm-rebukes-tre/155052885/|url-status=live}}
• 29 May – A taxi driver who refused to carry a cigarette smoking passenger faces a Brisbane magistrate charged with a summons complaint of breaching a section of Queensland Transport's regulations in his refusal to carry the passenger.{{cite news|date=30 May 1975|title=Case against no smoking taxi driver dismissed|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-case-against-n/157841454/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=26 October 2024}}{{cite news|last=Cunningham|first=James|date=31 May 2024|title=Taxi smoking a matter of freedom, says cabbie|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-taxi-smoking-a/157841544/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=26 October 2024}} After pleading not guilty, and evidence presented by health experts, the magistrate dismisses the charge, and orders the complainant to pay $150 in costs.
• 30 May – Western Australian premier Charles Court announces that the Country Party has reformed the coalition government with the Western Australian Liberal Party.{{cite news|date=31 May 1975|title=WA's political rift patched: CP back in coalition|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-was-political/157840688/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=26 October 2024}}

• 2 June – After a six-day trial, 37-year-old Bowral labourer Kenneth William Johnston is found guilty by a jury and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 13-year-old Bowral High School student Michelle Tracy Allport at Mittagong on 1 November 1974.{{cite news|date=4 November 1974|title=Girl, 13, found murdered|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-girl-13-foun/157845928/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=26 October 2024}}{{cite news|date=3 June 1975|title=Man given life for killing girl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-man-given-life/157844818/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=26 October 2024}} Despite being eligible for parole from November 1993, the State Parole Authority declines to release Johnston to parole and he remains in the Long Bay Correctional Centre until his death at the age of 79 on 29 October 2017.{{cite news|last=Russell|first=Paula|date=15 November 2018|title=Inquest into the death of Kenneth Johnstone|url=https://coroners.nsw.gov.au/documents/findings/2018/Kenneth%20JOHNSTONE%20Findings%20(2).pdf|work=Coroners Court of New South Wales|access-date=26 October 2024}}
• 5 June – Lance Barnard's resignation to become Ambassador to Sweden leads to a reorganisation of the Federal Ministry.{{cite news|last=Bowers|first=Peter|date=6 June 1975|title=13 in Cabinet shake-up|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-13-in-cabinet/155054198/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912021252/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-13-in-cabinet/155054198/|url-status=live}} Social Security Minister Bill Hayden (Ipswich) replaces Jim Cairns as Treasurer, and Cameron is demoted from the Labour and Immigration Ministry to Science and Consumer Affairs (amid his own and union protests).
• 9 June – Sydney's first ethnic radio station 2EA goes to air for the first time, with the station's transmissions commencing with an address by Al Grassby who speaks in Greek.{{cite news|date=5 June 1975|title=Debut for ethnic radio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-debut-for-ethn/158762412/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=9|access-date=10 November 2024}}{{cite news|date=10 June 1975|title=Ethnic radio takes to the air|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-ethnic-radio-t/158762429/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=12|access-date=10 November 2024}}
• 11 June – Australian officials confirm Tamworth medical practitioner Dr Douglas Hill, who was in Ethiopia working as a doctor for the Society of International Missionaries to help famine victims was stabbed to death by a tribesman on 4 June.{{cite news|date=12 June 1975|title=Australian doctor in Ethiopia stabbed to death|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-australian-doc/157977609/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=28 October 2024}}
• 15 June – The South Australian Australian Labor Party conference gives Prime Minister Gough Whitlam a mixed reception. The Australian Workers' Union, in particular, is offended by his recent demotion of Clyde Cameron, for decades a leading figure in South Australia's Labor and Industrial Affairs.{{cite news|last=Frykberg|first=Ian|date=16 June 1975|title=PM's new bid for trains and hospitals|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-pms-new-bid-f/155054492/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|quote=Half a dozen members of the South Australian branch of the Australian Workers' Union boycotted his speech...|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912021434/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-pms-new-bid-f/155054492/|url-status=live}}
• 20 June – A 38-year-old shearing contractor who had been arrested on a charge of drunkenness is burnt to death in a fire in a police cell in Charleville, Queensland.{{cite news|date=21 June 1975|title=Prisoner dies in cell fire|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-prisoner-dies/158761870/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=10 November 2024}} The police officer on night duty attempts to rescue the man but is forced back by the flames. Four other prisoners in adjoining cells are rescued.
• 27 June – Former Balmain Tigers rugby league player Kevin Yow Yeh dies in a police cell in Mackay, Queensland.{{cite news|date=29 June 1975|title=Footballer dead in Qld police cell|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-footballer-dea/155054724/|work=The Sun-Herald|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024526/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-footballer-dea/155054724/|url-status=live}}
• 28 June –
• 12-year-old Terry Floyd disappears and is believed to have been abducted as he hitchhiked on Victoria's Pyrenees Highway between Maryborough and Avoca after playing in a local football match.{{cite news|date=4 July 1975|title=Boy missing|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-boy-missing/161292149/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=22 December 2024}}{{cite news|date=11 July 1975|title=Abduction fear on missing boy, 12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-abduction-fear-on-missing-boy-1/161292254/|work=The Age|page=11|access-date=22 December 2024}}{{cite news|last=Judd|first=Bridget|date=16 January 2017|title=Missing boy's family edge closer to answers, 40 years after his disappearance|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-16/missing-boys-family-edge-closer-to-answers/8185686|work=ABC News|access-date=22 December 2024}}{{cite news|last=D'Agostino|first=Emma|date=19 February 2023|title=Search for missing 12yo Terry Floyd last seen in Avoca in 1975 awarded $35,000 by Victorian government|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-19/search-for-missing-terry-floyd-awarded-35000-by-vic-government/101995962|work=ABC News|access-date=22 December 2024}}
• The 1975 Bass by-election is held.{{cite news|last1=Anderson|first1=Chris|last2=Bowers|first2=Peter|date=29 June 1975|title=Bass debacle: Labor rout|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-bass-debacle/155054687/|work=The Sun-Herald|pages=1, 24|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912021842/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-bass-debacle/155054687/|url-status=live}} Malcolm Fraser and Gough Whitlam campaign against each other for the first time as leaders. A swing of about 16% against the Australian Labor Party gives the seat to the Liberal candidate Kevin Newman, and the Opposition sees this as the green light for its strategy of forcing a second premature election.{{cite news|last1=Dunn|first1=Alan|last2=Gratton|first2=Michelle|date=30 June 1975|title=Bass disaster stuns Labor|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-bass-disaster-stuns-labor/155055538/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912021843/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-bass-disaster-stuns-labor/155055538/|url-status=live}}
• 30 June – Queensland Senator Bert Milliner dies, leaving a Senate vacancy.{{cite news|last=Frykberg|first=Ian|date=1 July 1975|title=Qld premier keeps open options on new senator|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-qld-premier-ke/155055800/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024}} The filling of this vacancy and the controversy surrounding it becomes one of the key events of the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis.

• 1 July –
• 19-year-old American woman Julie Garciacelay, living in Australia and employed as a library assistant at Southdown Press, disappears in Melbourne.{{cite news|last=O'Halloran|first=Terry|date=8 July 1975|title=Girl disappears, clothes slashed|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-girl-disappears-clothes-slashed/161292086/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=22 December 2024}}{{cite news|last=Goldie|first=Peter|date=9 July 1975|title=Father puzzles over missing girl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-father-puzzles-over-missing-girl/161292102/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=22 December 2024}}{{Cite web |last=ezramagazine |date=2025-01-01 |title=Julie Garciacelay - Their Name Is |url=https://ezramagazine.com/juliegarciacelay/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Ezra Magazine |language=en-US}} As of 2024, the case remains unsolved with Victoria Police reopening the case in 2003.{{cite news|date=15 October 2003|title=Police reopen case, 28 years on|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/police-reopen-case-28-years-on-20031015-gdwjo7.html|work=The Age|access-date=22 December 2024}}{{cite news|last=Bucci|first=Nino|date=1 July 2015|title=Another twist in the Julie Ann Garciacelay cold case, 40 years after she disappeared|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/another-twist-in-the-julie-ann-garciacelay-cold-case-40-years-after-she-disappeared-20150701-gi2c5i.html|work=The Age|access-date=22 December 2024}}{{cite news|last=Vivian|first=Steve|date=18 October 2024|title=Renewed hope to solve 1975 Julie Garciacelay cold case following Easey Street breakthroughs|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-18/julie-garciacelay-cold-case-renewed-hope-easey-street/104471484|work=ABC News|access-date=22 December 2024}}
• Medibank is introduced, Australia Post and Telecom are formed from the Postmaster-General's Department.{{cite news|date=1 July 1975|title=Medibank gets underway|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-medibank-gets/155056468/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=8|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912021808/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-medibank-gets/155056468/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|date=1 July 1975|title=From July 1 for Postal Services look to Australia Post|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-from-july-1-fo/155056651/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=8|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912021846/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-from-july-1-fo/155056651/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|date=1 July 1975|title=From July 1 your telecommunication services will be provided by Telecom Australia|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-from-july-1-y/155056619/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=9|access-date=11 September 2024}}
• 2 July –
• Prime Minister Gough Whitlam has Jim Cairns' commission as Environment Minister terminated for misleading Parliament.{{cite news|last1=Jost|first1=John|last2=Hills|first2=Ben|date=3 July 2024|title=Whitlam sacks Cairns|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-whitlam-sacks-cairns/155057044/|work=The Age|pages=1, 3–5|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912021847/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-whitlam-sacks-cairns/155057044/|url-status=live}} Cairns had denied having written a secret letter to a loans broker in March, but a signed letter was produced in June.
• Approximately 100 University of Sydney students break into the office of vice-chancellor Bruce Williams to participate in a three-hour occupation, during which time they drank his alcoholic beverages and wore his academic robes.{{cite news|author=|date=3 July 1975|title=Sit-in students drink the Vice-Chancellor's beer: Occupation ends after Act read|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-sit-in-student/162829953/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=12 January 2025}}
• 3 July – A school bus carrying 39 children collides with a cement truck in the Melbourne suburb of Thornbuy, near Thornbury High School.{{cite news|author=|date=4 July 1975|title=41 people injured in smash|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-41-people-inju/162831228/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=12 January 2025}}{{cite news|last=Arkley|first=Lindsey|date=4 July 1975|title=Girl's dream of crash came true...|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-girls-dream-of-crash-came-true/161292160/|work=The Age|page=5|access-date=12 January 2025}}
• 4 July – Sydney newspaper publisher Juanita Nielsen disappears from her Kings Cross home where she published attacks on inner-city development.{{cite news|date=9 July 1975|title=Mark Foys heiress: abduction feared|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-mark-foys-heiress-abduction-fea/155057317/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=14|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912021933/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-mark-foys-heiress-abduction-fea/155057317/|url-status=live}} Edward Trigg and Shayne Martin-Simmonds are later found guilty of conspiring to abduct her.{{cite news|date=15 February 1981|title=Neilsen case: call for report|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-nielsen-case/155057952/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=27|access-date=11 September 2024|quote=Last week, a former Kings Cross barman Shayne Martin-Simmons, 34, was jailed for two years for conspiring to abduct Mrs Neilsen in mid-1975.|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912022313/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-nielsen-case/155057952/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Macken|first=Deidre|date=2 February 1983|title=Man's conviction ends another chapter in the case of the missing heiress|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-mans-conviction-ends-another-ch/155058155/|work=The Age|page=5|access-date=11 September 2024|quote=Edward Frederick Trigg, 42... pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring to abduct the newspaper editor and heiress.|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912022332/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-mans-conviction-ends-another-ch/155058155/|url-status=live}} In 2021, New South Police announce a $1 million reward for anyone who provides information relating to Neilsen's suspected murder.{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Ursula|date=21 June 2021|title=NSW Police announce $1 million reward for information about Juanita Nielsen's suspected murder|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-21/nsw-offers-million-dollar-reward-over-juanita-nielsen-killing/100230004|work=ABC News|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024521/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-21/nsw-offers-million-dollar-reward-over-juanita-nielsen-killing/100230004|url-status=live}}
• 6 July –
• Two men are killed and 14 others injured when a tour bus crashed down the side of Alpine Way at Dead Horse Gap near Thredbo.{{cite news|author=|date=7 July 1975|title=Two killed in Alps bus smash|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-two-killed-in/164052728/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=27 January 2025}}{{cite news|author=|date=8 July 1975|title=Nurses heroines of Snowy bus crash: Two dead, 14 injured|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-nurses-heroine/164052640/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=27 January 2025}} The bus was chartered for a 14-day trip to the Snowy Mountains. Two 19-year-old nurses who were on the bus are credited with raising the alarm and tending to the injured, with one running four kilometres to the Thredbo Chalet to seek help.
• Senator Michael Townley is uninjured when the aircraft he was piloting crashed after it failed to take off at Grovedale, Victoria. His two passengers are also uninjured.{{cite news|author=|date=7 July 1975|title=Plane crash for senator|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-plane-crash-es/162836709/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=12 January 2025}}
• 7 July – Historical documents from 1881 and a collection of coins minted in 1881 are discovered by Sydney City Council workers upon removing the foundation block of the Queen Victoria statue in Queen's Square.{{cite news|author=|date=8 July 1975|title=Queen Victoria's secret hoard|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-queen-victoria/162847793/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=27 January 2025}} The artefacts were placed under the statue when Prince Edward (later King Edward VII) laid the foundation stone at its original location at Hyde Park, Sydney on 2 August 1881.{{cite news|author=|date=3 August 1881|title=Queen Victoria's statue|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-queen-victorias-sta/164049676/|work=The Daily Telegraph|page=3|access-date=27 January 2025}} The statue moved to Queen's Square in 1908, when additional documents were added to the original 1881 items.
• 12 July – The 1975 South Australian state election is held, which is narrowly won by the incumbent Labor Party government led by premier Don Dunstan narrowly defeating the Liberal Party led by opposition leader Bruce Eastick.{{cite news|last=Anderson|first=Chris|date=13 July 1975|title=Close struggle in Dunstan poll|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-close-struggle/160458156/|work=The Sun-Herald|pages=1–2|access-date=7 December 2024}}{{cite news|last=Colebatch|first=Tim|date=14 July 1975|title=Dunstan relies on independent|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-dunstan-relies-on-independent/160458178/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=7 December 2024}}
• 23 July – Staff at the ABC's 2JJ intentionally take the station off the air for two hours due to a stop work meeting with staff protesting over the Australian Broadcasting Control Board's allocation of a relatively weak transmission for the station, with listeners in large areas of Sydney receiving poor reception.{{cite news|date=24 July 1975|title=2JJ men stop the rock for two hours|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-2jj-men-stop-t/160582641/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=9 December 2024}}
• 25 July – Following the party's defeat at the state election, David Tonkin successfully contests the leadership of the South Australian Liberal Party, defeating Bruce Eastick.{{cite news|date=26 July 1975|title=New leader for Liberals in SA|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-new-leader-for/160458112/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=7 December 2024}}
• 26 July – A car bomb explodes outside Football Park in the Adelaide suburb of West Lakes, killing 43-year-old Billy Shuttleworth.{{cite news|date=27 July 1975|title=Man killed by bomb planted in parked car|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-man-killed-by/160445825/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=4|access-date=7 December 2024}} 31-year-old Roger Michael O'Sullivan and 25-year-old George Valentine Mackie are both charged with Shuttleworth's murder.{{cite news|date=28 July 1975|title=Bomb death: two held|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-bomb-death-tw/160447727/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=11|access-date=7 December 2024}} They are both sentenced on 31 October 1975 to death after a Supreme Court jury find them both guilty of having murdered Shuttleworth.{{cite news|date=1 November 1975|title=Death sentence for bomb men|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-death-sentence-for-bomb-men/160446001/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=7 December 2024}} The sentences were commuted to life imprisonment under government policy at the time. Both men unsuccessfully appealed their convictions.{{cite news|date=6 December 1975|title=Appeals lost|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-appeals-lost/160447462/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=7 December 2024}}
• 28 July – It's confirmed Australian political advisor Eric Joseph Wright, a mentor to Papuan separatist Josephine Abaijah has been ordered to leave Papua New Guinea by foreign relations minister Albert Maori Kiki.{{cite news|last=Boyce|first=Patrick|date=29 July 1975|title=PNG deports Australian succession adviser|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-png-deports-au/160457991/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=7 December 2024}}
• 29 July –
• After a two-hour hearing, the South Australian Parole Board grants convicted murderer Rupert Max Stuart parole. Stuart was sentenced to be hanged in 1959 for the murder of 9 year-old Mary Olive Hattam at Thevenard on 21 December 1958 but the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment following the Royal Commission in regard to Rupert Max Stuart.{{cite news|date=30 July 1975|title=Rupert Stuart Max free again|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-rupert-max-stu/160443756/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=7 December 2024}}
• During a television interview, president of the ACTU and the ALP, Bob Hawke pledges to give up drinking if he is successful in entering Federal Parliament and becomes the leader of the Australian Labor Party.{{cite news|last=Bowers|first=Peter|date=30 July 1975|title=Hawke to sign the pledge if he enters Parliament|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-hawke-to-sign/160441859/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=7 December 2024}}
• A Sydney restaurant proprietor was fined $20 after being charged under the Dog Act for refusing to permit a man onto his premises while accompanied by a guide dog on 28 April 1975. The restaurant proprietor, who failed to appear in court, was also ordered to pay $80 in professional fees and $20 for witness expenses as well as $6 in court costs.{{cite news|date=30 July 1975|title=Restaurant man fined over ban on guide dog|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-restaurant-man/160442235/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=7 December 2024}}

• 1 August –
• The body of missing 18-year-old Brisbane woman Catherine Pamela Graham is found beside the Flinders Highway at Oak Valley 24 kilometres south of Townsville.{{cite news|author=|date=2 August 1975|title=Body of girl beside highway|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-body-of-girl-b/164185227/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=29 January 2025}} As of 2025, Graham's murder remains unsolved with police reopening the case in 2009 and offering a $250,000 reward in 2019 for information.{{cite news|last=Cornish|first=Murray|date=29 July 2009|title=Police reopen 1975 murder case|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-07-29/police-reopen-1975-murder-case/1370262|work=ABC News|access-date=29 January 2025}}{{cite news|last=McCormack|first=Madura|date=4 September 2019|title=$250k reward, new push to solve teen's murder mystery|url=https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/crime-court/250k-reward-new-push-to-solve-teens-murder-mystery/news-story/a4e16a7685d301209eeeffb12dbb4ce2|work=Townsville Bulletin|access-date=29 January 2025}}
• Minister for Northern Australia Rex Patterson says he feels complaints about the behaviour of those aboard the Patris were exaggerated after an impromptu meeting with some of the ship's residents.{{cite news|author=|date=2 August 1975|title=Patis a living hell, say residents|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-patris-a-livin/164186700/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=4|access-date=29 January 2025}} The ship is anchored in Darwin Harbour and being used for emergency accommodation following Cyclone Tracy.{{cite news|last=Kastelloriou|first=Stergos|date=14 June 2017|title=Remembering the 'Patris': the iconic ship that brought thousands of Greeks to Australia|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/greek/en/article/remembering-the-patris-the-iconic-ship-that-brought-thousands-of-greeks-to-australia/96vpknxqd|work=SBS Greek|access-date=29 January 2025}} Some of those on board wrote to senior politicians and complained of drunkenness, attempted suicides, filthy conditions, offensive behaviour, violence and blocked plumbing. Despite Patterson's comments, an investigation into conditions aboard is ordered.
• 2 August – The ALP national executive votes to expel Tasmanian Trades & Labor Council secretary Brian Harradine from the Australian Labor Party.{{cite news|author=|date=3 August 1975|title=Harradine out of Labor Party|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-harradine-out/164187990/|work=The Sun-Herald|access-date=29 January 2025}}
• 3 August - Federal minister for transport Charles Jones announces that Qantas chairman Sir Donald Anderson is retiring due to ill health, but would remain on the Qantas board as a part-time director.{{cite news|author=|date=4 August 1975|title=Chairman of Qantas retires, ill|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-chairman-of-qa/164207240/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=29 January 2025}} Vice-chairman of Qantas Robert Law-Smith is appointed acting chairman.
• 4 August –
• Three years after a prototype aircraft visited Australia, a $46 million Concorde aircraft piloted by Brian Trubshaw arrives at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport for a week-long schedule of endurance flights between Singapore and Australia.{{cite news|last=Downes|first=Stephen|date=5 August 1975|title=Concorde, swoops in like great white swan|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-concorde-swoops-in-like-great-w/164207772/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=29 January 2025}} The Concorde's arrival coincides with the release of a 56-page draft document examining the environmental impact of its Australian operations. Vice-chairman of British Aircraft Corporation's commercial aircraft division Sir Geoffrey Tuttle also provides assurances that there would be no attempt to sell the Concorde to Qantas.
• A pilot and his two passengers are killed when the five-seater twin-engine Cessna they were aboard crashes just after takeoff at Karratha, Western Australia.{{cite news|date=5 August 1975|title=Plane crash kills three|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-plane-crash-ki/158763082/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=10 November 2024}}
• An Australian woman and her three children are taken hostage by the Japanese Red Army in the 1975 AIA building hostage crisis in Kuala Lumpur, along with 46 others including the woman's American husband.{{cite news|last=Richardson|first=Michael|date=5 August 1975|title=Four Australians among 50 held by gunmen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-four-australia/158763886/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=10 November 2024}}{{cite news|last=Richardson|first=Michael|date=8 August 1975|title=Mother tells of 38-hour ordeal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-mother-tells-o/158764095/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|pages=1, 9|access-date=10 November 2024}}
• 8 August – A 25-member surgical team led by paediatric surgeon Peter Jones commence a three-hour operation to separate conjoined twins Yew Sun Foo and Yew Tsar Foo at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital.{{cite news|author=|date=10 August 1975|title=Siamese twins parted - and survive|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-siamese-twins/164209186/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=3|access-date=29 January 2025}} The operation concludes in the early hours of 9 July and is a success.{{cite news|author=|date=11 August 2025|title=Twins on the improve, say doctors|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-twins-on-the-improve-say-doctor/164209287/|work=The Age|pages=1, 3|access-date=29 January 2025}}{{cite news|author=|date=13 August 1975|title=Parents say thanks with names of twins|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-parents-say-thanks-with-names-of/164209264/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=29 January 2025}} The condition of the twins gradually improves and they are discharged from hospital on 9 September 1975.{{cite news|author=|date=18 August 1975|title=It was mother's intuition, says Mrs Foo|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-it-was-womans-intuition-says-m/164209256/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=29 January 2025}}{{cite news|author=|date=9 September 1975|title=Twins leave hospital with the promise of normal lives|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-twins-leave-hospital-with-the-pr/164209308/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=29 January 2025}}
• 11 August –
• An English deckhand is sentenced to six year's jail for raping a 28-year-old Queensland woman on the P&O ocean liner Oronsay on 14 March 1975 while it was berthed in Pyrmont.{{cite news|author=|date=12 August 1975|title=Deckhand who raped woman on liner jailed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-deckhand-who-r/164952882/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=4|access-date=8 February 2025}}
• Lord Mayor of Sydney, Nicholas Shehadie announces he will not be standing for re-election.{{cite news|author=|date=12 August 1975|title=Sydney's Lord Mayor to quit|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-sydneys-lord/164952079/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=8 February 2025}} A new mayor will be formally elected at a special council meeting on 26 September 1975 but Shehadie says he will see out the remainder of his term as alderman which expires in two years.
• 13 August – The Anglican Commission of Inquiry into the Ocult recommends the Trade Practices Act be invoked to prevent the sale of ouija boards and tarot cards at toy shops and newsagencies.{{cite news|last=Gill|first=Alan|date=13 August 1975|title=Curb ouija board sale, says Church|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-curb-ouija-boa/164953835/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=8 February 2025|quote=...will be released at a press conference at St Andrew's Cathedral today.}}
• 25 August – Six prisoners escape through the roof of a high security building at Morisset Hospital near Newcastle, New South Wales by scaling the walls using a ladder from a carpenter's truck.{{cite news|author=|date=26 August 1975|title=Dogs used in hunt for six escaped prisoners|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-dogs-used-in-h/169899602/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=9 April 2025}} Police warn local residents to stay indoors while they searched the area for the prisoners, which include two convicted murderers and a convicted rapist. All prisoners are recaptured on 26 August.{{cite news|author=|date=27 August 1975|title=All six asylym fugitives captured|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-all-six-asylum/169900745/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=9 April 2025}}
• 26 August –
• Federal minister for Defence Bill Morrison confirms in Federal Parliament that the Whitlam Government has decided to abolish the Cadets Corp at the end of the year - a decision which is widely criticised by parents, headmasters and the RSL.{{cite news|author=|date=27 August 1975|title=Some schools plan to keep cadet training - Government's ruling brings protests|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-some-schools-p/169901815/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=9 April 2025}} However, Morrison states it is an expensive scheme costing the Australian Army $9 million each year.
• South Australian Minister for the Environment Glen Broomhill informs premier Don Dunstan he intends to resign from Cabinet in September citing personal and family reasons.{{cite news|author=|date=27 August 1975|title=Minister to resign|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-minister-to-re/169901482/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=9 April 2025}}
• 27 August – A 25-year-old New Zealand woman, employed as a tally clerk at Australian Iron & Steel's slab yard at Port Kembla, is crushed to death when she is pinned between two large steel slabs.{{cite news|author=|date=28 August 1975|title=Woman, 25, crushed to death|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-woman-25-cru/169902776/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=9 April 2025}}
• 28 August – Attorney-General Kep Enderby announces Justice Elizabeth Evatt's appointment as the first Chief Judge of the Family Court of Australia.{{cite news|last=|first=|date=29 August 1975|title=Justice Elizabeth Evatt to head Family Court|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-justice-elizab/169904345/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=9 April 2025}}
• 31 August –
• Five children from two families are killed when the vehicle they were in plunges into the Molonglo River in Canberra.{{cite news|author=|date=1 September 1975|title=5 children drowned in river|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-5-children-dro/169912299/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=9 April 2025}}
• An official welcome by prime minister Gough Whitlam to 700 delegates at the Women and Politics Conference at Parliament House in Canberra is disrupted by approximately 50 Aboriginal women who chant slogans alleging racism in the "white feminist movement."{{cite news|author=|date=1 September 2025|title=Women's talks begin in uproar|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-womens-talks/169912327/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=9 April 2025}}

• 3 September –
• Convention is breached when the Queensland Parliament rejects Australian Labor Party nominee Mal Colston to replace the deceased Senator Bert Milliner, choosing instead Pat Field (automatically expelled for having nominated against the endorsed candidate).{{cite news|date=4 September 1975|title=Qld picks union man for Senate: ALP nominee out|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-qld-picks-unio/155058965/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912022349/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-qld-picks-unio/155058965/|url-status=live}}
• During the Women and Politics conference in Canberra, a member of the Darwin Women's Electoral Lobby alleges that police officers from southern states had raped local women during the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy.{{cite news|author=|date=4 September 1974|title=Police raped women, says delegate|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-police-raped-d/170058873/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=8|access-date=11 April 2025}} NSW police minister John Waddy rejects the allegations describing them as "a scurrilous attack on a great body of men."{{cite news|author=|date=5 September 1975|title=Alleged rape by police in Darwin denied|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-alleged-rape-b/170058494/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=11 April 2025}}
• 4 September –
• An RAAF Caribou aircraft with Red Cross insignia is hijacked in Portuguese Timor by a group of armed men who forced the crew to fly 48 refugees to Darwin.{{cite news|author=|date=5 September 1975|title=RAAF plane seized: Crew forced to fly 48 from Timor to Darwin|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-raaf-plane-sei/170058383/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 April 2025}}
• Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and acting Attorney-General Jim McClelland strongly defend the appointment of Gail Wilenski, the wife of public servant Peter Wilenski, to the Public Service Board's new equal opportunities section.{{cite news|author=|date=5 September 1975|title=Mrs Wilenski best for the job - PM|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-mrs-wilenski-b/170058518/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=11 April 2025}}
• 5 September – Approximately 150 women march on the offices of The Canberra Times and occupy the editorial office of the newspaper demanding an opportunity to respond to a controversial editorial which was published on 2 September 1975.{{cite news|author=|date=6 September 1975|title=Women demonstrators march on newspaper; Insults, abuse at 'sexist' editorial|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-women-demonstr/170059200/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=4|access-date=11 April 2025}} Some of the women shouted abuse at acting editor John Farquharson while standing on desks, chairs and filing cabinets.{{cite news|author=|date=6 September 1975|title=Women delegates occupy newspaper office|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110657107/12746227|work=The Canberra Times|page=1|access-date=11 April 2025}}
• 6 September – A total of 46 people are injured in two separate bus crashes in New South Wales.{{cite news|author=|date=7 September 1975|title=Two buses crash off road: 46 injured|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-two-buses-cras/170060663/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=3|access-date=11 April 2025}} In the first incident, nine people were injured when a bus was involved in a six-vehicle pile up on the Pacific Highway at Peats Ridge. In the second incident, a tourist bus plunged down an embankment while travelling on the Great Western Highway near Hartley with all 37 people on board sustaining injuries.
• 16 September – Papua New Guinea gains its independence from Australia.{{cite news|last=Boyce|first=Patrick|date=17 September 1975|title=PM makes aid pledge to PNG|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-pm-makes-aid-p/155059113/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912022333/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-pm-makes-aid-p/155059113/|url-status=live}} As HMAS Stalwart fires a 101-gun salute across Port Moresby Harbour, Papua New Guinea governor-general Sir John Guise makes the declaration in a radio address at 12:01am that Papua New Guinea is now an independent nation, ending 90 years of colonial rule under British, German and Australian administrations.{{cite news|last=Boyce|first=Patrick|date=16 September 1975|title=New nation breaks with past|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-new-nation-bre/170131441/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=12 April 2025}}
• 20 September – Thirteen miners are killed in an underground coal mine explosion at the Kianga coal mine near Moura, Queensland.{{cite news|date=21 September 1975|title=Mine blast - 13 dead in Queensland fire|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-mine-blast-1/155059277/|work=The Sun-Herald|pages=1, 4|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912022434/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-mine-blast-1/155059277/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|date=22 September 1975|title=Blast like nuclear fireball - no hope seen for 13 miners|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-blast-like-nuc/155059373/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912022322/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-blast-like-nuc/155059373/|url-status=live}}
• 26 September – In a surprise announcement, prime minister Gough Whitlam announces he has appointed Justice Edward Woodward will be the new director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisaation, replacing Peter Barbour who will become Consul-General of Australia in New York from October 1975.{{cite news|last=Frykberg|first=Ian|date=27 September 1975|title=ASIO head replaced: Judge moves in; Barbour goes to New York|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-asio-head-repl/170681943/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1,19|access-date=20 April 2025}}

• 1 October –
• Senator Albert Field (now an Independent) is granted a month's leave of absence while his eligibility to take his seat is tested in the High Court of Australia, sitting as a Court of Disputed Returns.{{cite news|date=2 October 1975|title=Field takes leave to await court challenges|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-field-takes-le/155061046/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912022449/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-field-takes-le/155061046/|url-status=live}} There has been doubting as to whether he resigned in the correct way from the Public Service at the time he was appointed.
• Despite having pleaded not guilty, a 12-man jury finds 15-year-old Kevin Ernest Burgess guilty of murdering his 57-year-old grandmother, Betty Jones, at her home in the Sydney suburb of Cartwright on 28 March 1975.{{cite news|author=|date=29 March 1975|title=Woman killed with hammer|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-woman-killed-w/170690528/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=20 April 2025}}{{cite news|author=|date=2 October 1975|title=Boy, 15, guilty of hammer murder|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-boy-15-guilt/170637360/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=4|access-date=19 April 2025}} The boy is subsequently sentenced to 12 year's jail with a non-parole period of five years.{{cite news|author=|date=15 October 1975|title=Boy, 15, jailed for hammer killing|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-boy-15-jaile/170689833/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• A 32-year-old army parachutist is killed when his parachute fails to deploy and plunges approximately 3,000 metres to his death near Williamtown RAAF base.{{cite news|author=|date=2 October 1975|title=Parachutist in death fall|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-parachutist-in/170637215/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=19 April 2025}}
• 2 October – Elizabeth Reid resigns as prime minister Gough Whitlam's special adviser on women's affairs and as the convenor of the Australian National Advisory Committee for International Women's Year.{{cite news|last=Frykberg|first=Ian|date=3 October 1975|title=Elizabeth Reid quits as PM's advisor|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-elizabeth-reid/170637419/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|pages=1,9|access-date=19 April 2025}}
• 3 October –
• A 12-year-old boy is rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital after being shot in the head at Balmain High School.{{cite news|author=|date=4 October 1975|title=Schoolboy shot in head|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-schoolboy-shot/170637652/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=20 April 2025}} However, there are no suspicious circumstances.
• A 41-year-old man is killed when he falls to his death while working on a construction site at the Newcastle Steelworks.{{cite news|author=|date=4 October 1975|title=Man falls to death|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-man-falls-to-d/170679668/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• After a five-day hunger strike in Sydney's Martin Plaza, Hungarian man Ion Nicoara packs away his belongings after the Romanian consulate confirms they would support Nicoara's efforts to bring his son Stefan to Australia.{{cite news|last=Sykes|first=Jill|date=4 October 1975|title=Romanian father's ordeal is over|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-romanian-fathe/170637740/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• 4 October –
• Two 46-year-old men are killed when their boat sank off Kurnell when their 7-metre yacht is swamped and capsizes, while the sole survivor spends seven hours in the water before reaching the shore near the Kurnell Refinery.{{cite news|author=|date=5 October 1975|title=Two perish as yacht sinks; 7-hour swim to safety|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-two-perish-as/170680337/|work=The Sun-Herald|pages=1,14|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• Forty passengers are evacuated from an eight-carriage train at Sydney's Caringbah railway station and trains between Cronulla and Gymea diverted when a 35-year-old woman discovers what appears to be a bomb under a seat. Two soldiers and a scientific squad detective confirms there is no danger from the device which consists of six pieces of wood, cut to look like sticks of gelignite, wrapped in paper and connected to a battery and gauge mounted on a 12-inch square board.{{cite news|last=Henderson|first=Mike|date=5 October 2025|title=Panic on train from dummy bomb|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-panic-on-train/170680689/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=2|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• Following an administrative shake-up, prime minister Gough Whitlam announces he has taken over personal responsibility for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, succeeding Kep Enderby.{{cite news|last=Anderson|first=Chris|date=5 October 1975|title=Whitlam steps in on ASIO|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-whitlam-steps/170681614/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=3|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• Minister for Science and Consumer Affairs Clyde Cameron confirms an agreement has been reached to end the inclusion of imperial measurements in real estate advertising after 1 January 1976, following lengthy discussions between the Metric Conversion Board, newspaper groups and the real estate industry.{{cite news|author=|date=5 October 1975|title=Metric ads soon for home buying|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-metric-ads-soo/170682379/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=4|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• 5 October –
• Official figures are released for the month of September 1975 which indicate that for the first time since the Great Depression, unemployment figures rose to above 300,000 with over 304,000 Australians now out of work.{{cite news|last=Anderson|first=Chris|date=5 October 1975|title=Unemployed in Australia now up to 304,000|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-unemployment-i/170681308/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=2|access-date=20 April 2025}}{{cite news|author=|date=6 October 1975|title=Workless position worsens|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-workless-posit/170682960/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• A Melbourne man is killed when the Thorp T-18 aircraft he was piloting crashed into powerlines while on his way for a fly in to celebrate the opening of a new airstrip at Bungowannah in Victoria.{{cite news|author=|date=6 October 1975|title=Pilot killed: plane hits power lines|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-pilot-killed/170706140/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• 8 October – Prime Minister Gough Whitlam denies in Parliament that any of his senior ministers were still involved in trying to raise overseas loans in defiance of the 20 May revocation.{{cite news|last=Bowers|first=Peter|date=9 October 1975|title=Connor denies new loan claim|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-connor-denies/155061154/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|pages=1–2|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912022337/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-connor-denies/155061154/|url-status=live}} Press reports based on information from the loan intermediary, Tirath Khemlani, suggest that Rex Connor is still involved.
• 10 October – The High Court of Australia upholds the validity of the territorial Senators legislation.{{cite news|last=Gratton|first=Michelle|date=11 October 1975|title=Victory for Government|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-victory-for-government/155061312/|work=The Age|pages=1–2|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024525/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-victory-for-government/155061312/|url-status=live}} In any half-Senate election, four senators, plus replacements for Bunton and Field, would take their places in the Senate at once, thus giving Labor the chance to win back control there.
• 15 October – At a Brisbane Chamber of Commerce annual luncheon, Queensland Governor Sir Colin Hannah associates himself with the criticism of the Federal Government.{{cite news|date=16 October 1975|title=Queensland Governor backs move for election|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-queensland-gov/155061414/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912023843/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-queensland-gov/155061414/|url-status=live}} In the ensuing row, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam persuades Queen Elizabeth II to revoke Hannah's dormant commission to act as Governor-General.{{cite news|last=Frykberg|first=Ian|date=27 October 1975|title=Qld Governor stripped of power to act in Canberra|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-qld-governor-s/155061569/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912023843/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-qld-governor-s/155061569/|url-status=live}}
• 16 October – The Balibo Five are killed by Indonesian troops in Portuguese Timor.{{cite news|date=18 October 1975|title=Newsmen missing in Timor - Willesee is worried for safety of five|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-newsmen-missing-in-timor-wille/155062100/|work=The Age|page=3|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912023844/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-newsmen-missing-in-timor-wille/155062100/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=McDonald|first=Hamish|date=13 November 1975|title=Death of Australian journalist confirmed by Indonesia|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-death-of-austr/155062005/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912023916/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-death-of-austr/155062005/|url-status=live}}
• 28 October – Senator Don Willesee confirms the ABC's Peter Whitlock will be flown out of Hanoi later in the week, after receiving information from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that a number of foreigners who had been detained by the North Vietnamese would be on the flight.{{cite news|date=29 October 1975|title=ABC man to be flown out of Hanoi this week|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-abc-man-to-be/157038792/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=15|access-date=13 October 2024}}
• 30 October – After being held captive by the Viet Cong for nearly eight months, the ABC's Peter Whitlock is freed by North Vietnam and flown to Thailand with 13 others.{{cite news|date=31 October 1975|title=Hanoi frees ABC man|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-hanoi-frees-ab/157036836/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=13 October 2024}}
• 1 to 31 October – Averaged over Victoria, this stands as the wettest month since at least 1900 with a statewide average rainfall of {{convert|154.53|mm|in|2|disp=or}}.Australian Bureau of Meteorology; [http://www.bom.gov.au/web01/ncc/www/cli_chg/timeseries/rain/allmonths/vic/latestsort.txt All Months Rainfall Sorted — Victoria] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624060635/http://www.bom.gov.au/web01/ncc/www/cli_chg/timeseries/rain/allmonths/vic/latestsort.txt |date=24 June 2019 }}

• 2 November – After being held captive by the Viet Cong for nearly eight months, the ABC's Peter Whitlock arrives back in Australia.{{cite news|date=3 November 1975|title=The captive catches up|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-the-captive-catches-up/157036667/|work=The Age|page=2|access-date=13 October 2024}} Upon his arrival, he criticises some reporting that suggested he was on a spying or political mission when he was captured, stating: "I'm bitterly disappointed about it. Apart from everything else it could have harmed my professional standing with my colleagues. If anyone had the right to question my credentials, it was the North Vietnamese and they never once suggested that I was involved in anything sinister."
• 11 November – The 1975 Australian constitutional crisis culminates with Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissing the Whitlam government.{{cite news|last=Frykberg|first=Ian|date=12 November 1975|title=Election in December: Whitlam sacked, Fraser new PM in day of turmoil|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-election-in-de/155062671/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|pages=1–10|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024012/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-election-in-de/155062671/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Jost|first1=John|last2=Mitchell|first2=Neil|date=12 November 1975|title=Kerr sacks PM|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-kerr-sacks-pm/155062257/|work=The Age|pages=1–9|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912023847/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-kerr-sacks-pm/155062257/|url-status=live}} Malcolm Fraser is installed as caretaker Prime Minister.
• 19 November –
• Underworld figure Billy "The Texan" Longley is found guilty of murdering union secretary Pat Shannon on 17 October 1973 and sentenced to life imprisonment.{{cite news|date=20 November 1975|title=Life sentence for Longley|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-life-sentence-for-longley/155902174/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=24 September 2024}}{{cite news|last=Silvester|first=John|date=28 March 1975|title=Melbourne underworld figure Billy 'The Texan' Longley dies|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-underworld-figure-billy-the-texan-longley-dies-20140328-35nu8.html|work=The Age|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217152403/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-underworld-figure-billy-the-texan-longley-dies-20140328-35nu8.html|archive-date=17 December 2019|access-date=24 September 2024}}
• Two staff members of the Queensland Premier's department are injured when they open a letter-bomb addressed to Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen.{{cite news|date=20 November 1975|title=Security net tightened: Letter bombs grave concern for politicians' safety|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-security-net-t/155063304/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912023847/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-security-net-t/155063304/|url-status=live}}

• 8 December – 4ZZZ independent community radio station launches in Brisbane under its original callsign 4ZZ-FM.{{cite news|last=Sinnamon|first=Myles|date=5 December 2015|title=Brisbane radio station 4ZZZ's 40th anniversary|url=https://www.anzacsquare.qld.gov.au/stories/brisbane-radio-station-4zzz-40th-anniversary|work=Anzac Square|access-date=11 September 2024|quote=On December 8, 1975, Brisbane community FM radio station 4ZZZ first went to air (under their original callsign 4ZZ-FM).|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912030249/https://www.anzacsquare.qld.gov.au/stories/brisbane-radio-station-4zzz-40th-anniversary|url-status=live}}
• 9 December – New South Wales Country Party Leader Sir Charles Cutler retires and Deputy Leader Leon Punch replaces him with Tim Bruxner as his deputy.{{cite news|last=O'Hara|first=John|date=10 December 1975|title=NSW Country Party picks its new leader|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-nsw-country-pa/155070551/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024353/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-nsw-country-pa/155070551/|url-status=live}}
• 13 December –
• The 1975 Australian federal election is held. After a bitter campaign in which Labor tried to keep constitutional matters to the fore and the Coalition concentrated on inflation, unemployment and Labor's errors in office, the Fraser Government is confirmed in power, securing 54% of the vote, 91 of the 127 House seats, and 35 Senate seats.{{cite news|last1=Anderson|first1=Chris|last2=O'Reilly|first2=Neil|date=14 December 2024|title=Triumph for Libs! Fraser wins in landslide|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-triumph-for-li/155070592/|work=The Sun-Herald|pages=1, 2, 14, 15|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024353/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-triumph-for-li/155070592/|url-status=live}}
• The Victorian Government forms a committee to examine some of the recommendations from the Beach Board of Inquiry.
• 25 December – The Savoy Hotel fire occurs in which fifteen persons are killed in an arson attack at the Savoy Hotel in Kings Cross, New South Wales.{{cite news|date=26 December 2024|title=14 die in hotel holocaust|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-14-die-in-hote/155070745/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024354/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-14-die-in-hote/155070745/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|date=27 December 1975|title=Protest at delay to fire rules|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-protest-at-del/155070785/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024355/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-protest-at-del/155070785/|url-status=live}}

• 17 October – John Cornforth shares the Nobel Prize for Chemistry{{cite news|date=18 October 1975|title=Australian shares Nobel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-australian-sha/155071405/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024355/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-australian-sha/155071405/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Berryman|first=Nancy|date=19 October 1975|title=Nobel winner 'pushed' into chemistry|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-nobel-winner/155071412/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=41|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024356/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-nobel-winner/155071412/|url-status=live}}

{{main|1975 in Australian literature}}

• 17 January – Sam Fullbrook is announced as the winner of the 1974 Archibald Prize for his portrait of jockey Norman Stephens.{{cite news|date=18 January 1975|title=Brisbane artist takes the Archibald Prize|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-brisbane-artis/155119677/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=12 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024357/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-brisbane-artis/155119677/|url-status=live}}
• 26 January – The third Australasian Country Music Awards are held in Tamworth.{{cite news|date=27 January 1975|title='Disappointment' won best musical award|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-disappointmen/158046494/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=29 October 2024}} Joy McKean wins a golden guitar award for Best Australasian-recorded composition for "The Biggest Disappointment". Her husband Slim Dusty wins golden guitars for Best Australasian Country Music LP album for Australiana and for Best Male Vocal for "The Biggest Disappointment". Jean Stafford wins for Best Female Vocal for "What Kind Of Girl Do You Think I Am?" while Johnny Chester's "My Kind of Woman" is recognised with the award for Top Selling Australasian Country Music Track.

• 6 March – American actress Bette Davis arrives in Australia for An Informal Evening with Bette Davis which commences at the Sydney Opera House on 9 March before taking the show to Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne.{{cite news|date=7 March 1975|title=It's business, not nostalgia for Bette|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-its-business/157039344/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=13 October 2024}}
• 19 March –
• American journalist and anchor of CBS Evening News, Walter Cronkite arrives in Australia as a guest of IBM to deliver lectures about developments in politics and economics, and to meet informally with prime minister Gough Whitlam.{{cite news|date=20 March 1975|title=US to keep out of Vietnam: Cronkite|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116339031|work=The Canberra Times|page=9|access-date=13 October 2024}}{{cite news|last=Cunningham|first=James|date=20 March 1975|title=No substitute for papers, says Cronkite|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-no-substitute/156976405/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=13 October 2024}}
• Popular American family music group The Osmonds arrive in Australia for a series of concerts in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.{{cite news|date=20 March 1975|title=Screams greet Osmonds|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-screams-greet/156976533/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=13 October 2024}}
• 20 March – The New South Wales state minister for culture, sport and recreation John Barraclough condemns the federal government for allowing rock musician Alice Cooper into Australia.{{cite news|date=21 March 1975|title=Alice Cooper 'not cultural show'|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-alice-cooper/156977067/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=13 October 2024}} Barraclough says Cooper's performances cannot be justified as "cultural" and describes the system of issuing entry permits into the country as needing an urgent overhaul.
• 24 March – Sponsored by Festival of Light Australia, American singer Pat Boone and his family arrive in Australia for a series of performances in major cities, including five performances at the Sydney Opera House, while also making special appearances at Christian rallies and open air services.{{cite news|last=Gill|first=Alan|date=13 October 2024|title=Pop music's Mr Clean flies in for festival|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-pop-musics-mr/157039680/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=13 October 2024}}

• 22 April – Ronald McKie is announced as the winner of the 1974 Miles Franklin Award for his novel The Mango Tree.{{cite news|date=23 April 1975|title=Fiction novice wins top prize|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-fiction-novice/155120116/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=9|access-date=12 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024525/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-fiction-novice/155120116/|url-status=live}}

• 17 May – Internationally renowned ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev arrives in Australia for a tour with the London Festival Ballet, for which he will produce and star in The Sleeping Beauty.{{cite news|last=Cizzio|first=Joe|date=18 May 1975|title='Give up a pint to see the ballet'|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-give-up-a-pin/157727949/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=2|access-date=26 October 2024}}

• 2 July – Gary Glitter arrives in Australia to attend a show by his group The Glitter Band at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion, but says he does not intend to sing himself due to a scheduled recording session in New York.{{cite news|author=|date=3 July 1975|title=Gary Glitter's recipe for economic malaise|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-gary-glitters/162826645/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=12 January 2025}}
• 10 July – American comedian Bill Cosby arrives in Australia for a 10-day national tour and to host a celebrity tennis tournament for the Heart Foundation at Rushcutters Bay.{{cite news|author=|date=11 July 1975|title=Politics from a garbage can|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-politics-from/164053817/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=27 January 2025}}
• 13 July – Lou Reed arrives in Australia for a national concert tour, which begins with a hostile press conference at Sydney Airport.{{cite news|author=|date=14 July 1975|title=Lou Reed fails to sing for the press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-lou-reed-fails/164054318/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=4|access-date=27 January 2025}}
• 21 July –
• For the third time, Sister Mary Brady wins the Portia Geach Memorial Award, having previously won the award in 1966 and 1971.{{cite news|author=|date=22 July 1975|title=Picture wins nun her third award|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-picture-wins-n/164184106/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=29 January 2025}} This year's win is for a portrait of her friend Elizabeth Rooney.
• American entertainer Danny Kaye arrives in Australia and prepares to conduct the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at a concert at the Sydney Opera House.{{cite news|last=Cunningham|first=James|date=22 July 1975|title=The perennial Mr Kaye sees a changing Sydney|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-the-perennial/164183664/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=29 January 2025}}
• 24 July – Despite pleading not guilty to having deposited litter in a public place, artist Ivan Durrant is fine $100 in the Melbourne City Court after dumping a dead cow on the forecourt at the National Gallery of Victoria, telling the court he had done so to enlighten people about killing.{{cite news|date=24 July 1975|title=$100 fine for dumping a dead cow|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-100-fine-for-dumping-a-dead-cow/160582189/|work=The Age|page=10|access-date=9 December 2024}} Durrant was also ordered to pay $157 in costs.

• 26 August – The Bay City Rollers arrive in Sydney for a promotional tour of Australia. However, the group avoided fans who had waited for them to appear at the airport by exiting through a private entrance to be driven directly to their hotel.{{cite news|author=|date=27 August 1975|title=Fans miss Rollers|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-fans-miss-roll/169901013/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=9 April 2025}}

• September – Xavier Herbert's novel Poor Fellow My Country is released.{{cite news|last=Kepert|first=L V|date=14 September 1975|title=New books: Xavier Herbert's blockbuster, a cry for Australia|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-new-books-xav/170687399/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=110|access-date=20 April 2025}} In April 1976, the book is announced as the winner of the 1975 Miles Franklin Award.{{cite news|date=28 April 1976|title=Top award to Xavier Herbert, 74|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-top-award-to-x/155118523/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=12 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024902/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-top-award-to-x/155118523/|url-status=live}}

• 4 September – British jazz musician Acker Bilk arrives in Australia to commence his fourth Australian tour.{{cite news|author=|date=5 September 1975|title=Acker Bilk here for tour|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-acker-bilk-her/170058956/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=4|access-date=11 April 2025}}

• 3 October – Australian composer Malcolm Williamson is appointed Master of the Queen's Musick, succeeding Sir Arthur Bliss who died on 27 March 1975.{{cite news|author=|date=4 October 1975|title=Australian is Master of Queen's Musick|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-australian-is/170637551/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• 6 October –
• For the first time since the second world war, a woman reads the news on ABC Radio when Margaret Throsby presents the 7pm and 10pm news bulletin on Sydney's 2BL.{{cite news|author=|date=7 October 1975|title=Here is the news - read by a woman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-here-is-the-ne/170684023/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• American opera singer Anna Moffo arrives in Australia to perform in a varied program of operatic arias in Sydney between 12 October to 17 October.{{cite news|last=Sykes|first=Jill|date=7 October 1975|title=Only 30 seconds and many years ago: Singer can't shake off that appearance|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-only-30-second/170684433/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=20 April 2025}} She holds a press conference where she discusses her controversial nude scenes in the 1969 film Una Storia d'Amore.
• American country singer John Denver arrives in Australia for three scheduled concerts at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion but refuses to speak to waiting media.{{cite news|author=|date=7 October 1975|title=Singer without a song|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-singer-without/170684687/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• 10 October – After the ABC's standing committee on spoken English receives two letters from prime minister Gough Whitlam urging ABC announcers to pronounce the word kilometre as ki-lom-etre, the committee rules against Whitlam and confirms announcers should be pronouncing the word as kil-ometre.{{cite news|author=|date=11 October 1975|title=ABC overrules PM: It says KIL-ometre|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-abc-overrules/170707240/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=20 April 2025}} The chairman of the committee, professor of linguistics at Macquarie University Arthur Delbridge confirms kil-ometre had been favoured due to its consistency with other metric terms such as centimetre and millimetre.

• 21 November – Thea Astley wins The Age Book of the Year Award for her novel A Kindness Cup.{{cite news|last=Baker|first=Mark|date=22 November 1975|title=Novelist gets a $3000 surprise|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-novelist-gets-a-3000-surprise/170770504/|work=The Age|page=2|access-date=21 April 2025}}

• 23 January 1976 – John Bloomfield is announced as the winner of the 1975 Archibald Prize for his portrait of Tim Burstall.{{cite news|last=Sykes|first=Jill|date=24 January 1976|title=Big day at the Art Gallery|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-big-day-at-the/155118225/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=12 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024938/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-big-day-at-the/155118225/|url-status=live}} However, the validity of Bloomfield's entry is questioned with Bloomfield admitting he had never met Burstall despite the conditions of the competition specifying subjects are required to have been painted from life.{{cite news|last=Sykes|first=Jill|date=27 January 1976|title=The validity of art prize win is questioned|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-the-validity-o/155118328/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=12 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024900/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-the-validity-o/155118328/|url-status=live}} The board of trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales ultimately rescind the 1975 Archibald Prize from John Bloomfield, determining his entry did not comply with the conditions that the portrait be painted from life. The trustees subsequently choose Kevin Connor as the 1975 Archibald Prize for his portrait of The Hon Sir Frank Kitto, KBE.{{cite news|last=Sykes|first=Jill|date=28 February 1976|title=Art prize switched|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-art-prize-swit/155117845/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=12 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024901/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-art-prize-swit/155117845/|url-status=live}}

• 23 March – Sunday Too Far Away is awarded Best Film at the 1974-75 Australian Film Awards.{{cite news|date=24 March 1975|title=Shearer feature gets good clip of 'Oscars'|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-shearer-feature-gets-good-clip-o/156984391/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=12 October 2024}}
• 4 September – Petersen opens in London to positive reviews.{{cite news|author=|date=5 September 1975|title=Film acclaimed in London|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-film-acclaimed/170058959/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=4|access-date=11 April 2025}}
• October – Picnic at Hanging Rock, directed by Peter Weir, is released.{{cite news|date=23 October 1975|title=Haunting Australian film opens here tomorrow|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-haunting-austr/155120859/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=12|access-date=12 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025026/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-haunting-austr/155120859/|url-status=live}}

• 31 January – A special "Salute to Australia" edition of The Merv Griffin Show airs in the United States featuring Australian performers Helen Reddy, Peter Allen, Daphne Davis, Dita Cobb and The LeGarde Twins.{{cite news|last=Glascott|first=Joseph|date=2 February 1975|title=Our men are awful - US TV outburst|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-our-men-are-a/155585398/|work=The Sun-Herald|access-date=13 October 2024}}
• 1 March – "Colour Day" arrives with the launch of full-time colour television broadcasting.{{cite news|last=Monks|first=Sarah|date=2 March 2024|title=Colour Day - with spot of black news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-colour-day-w/155071477/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=4|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912025015/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-colour-day-w/155071477/|url-status=live}}
• 3 March – During a live Cedal hair products commercial on The Graham Kennedy Show, Kennedy interrupts to make "a sound like a crow", prompting criticism by the Broadcasting Control Board about the "general vulgarity and poor taste" of the show.{{cite news|date=5 March 1975|title=Kennedy faces a total ban on TV|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-kennedy-faces-a-total-ban-on-tv/155071564/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024904/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-kennedy-faces-a-total-ban-on-tv/155071564/|url-status=live}}
• 7 March – Ernie Sigley and Denise Drysdale from The Ernie Sigley Show both win Gold Logies at the Logie Awards of 1975 for being the most popular male and female personalities on Australian television.{{cite news|last=Byrne|first=Jennifer|date=8 March 1975|title=Sigley makes it after one year in Melbourne TV|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-sigley-makes-it-after-one-year-i/155122415/|work=The Age|page=2|access-date=12 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912030501/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-sigley-makes-it-after-one-year-i/155122415/|url-status=live}}
• 19 March – The Broadcasting Control Board rules that Graham Kennedy be restricted to pre-recorded television appearances only, and only those that are approved by a station executive, prompting Kennedy to threaten legal action.{{cite news|last=Basile|first=Vincent|date=19 March 1975|title=Kennedy: I'll sue over live TV ban|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-kennedy-ill-sue-over-live-tv-b/155071691/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024905/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-kennedy-ill-sue-over-live-tv-b/155071691/|url-status=live}}
• 24 March – Wollongong mayor Frank Arkell demands an apology from the ABC over a comedy special entitled Wollongong the Brave which aired on ABC TV and included a sketch depicting migrants on leashes undergoing "assimilation training."{{cite news|date=25 March 1975|title=Storm over ABC program|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-storm-over-abc/156978028/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=12 October 2024}} Arkell claims the producers of the program displayed a "contemptuous arrogance in dealing with Wollongong."
• 17 April – After remarks in which he was critical of federal minister for the media Doug McClelland were edited out of his pre-recorded program, Graham Kennedy resigns from Channel 9.{{cite news|last=Aiton|first=Douglas|date=18 April 1975|title=$½m down, but Kennedy glad it's over|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-m-down-but-kennedy-glad-its/155071762/|work=The Age|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024906/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-m-down-but-kennedy-glad-its/155071762/|url-status=live}}
• 2 July – The Australian Broadcasting Control Board announces that from February 1976, Australian television networks will be required to air an additional 30 hours of new Australian drama content each week under new revisions in the television points system.{{cite news|author=|date=3 July 1975|title=TV stations told to increase their local drama content|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-tv-stations-to/162828815/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2|access-date=12 January 2025}}
• 3 October – Brisbane television journalists indicate they intend to lodge a complaint with the Australian Journalists Association regarding the conduct of prime minister Gough Whitlam's chief speech writer Graham Freudenberg during their attempts to interview Whitlam upon his visit to Brisbane to launch a book about T J Ryan, written by Denis Murphy.{{cite news|author=|date=4 October 1975|title=PM's men clash with 'pathetic' reporters|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-pms-men-clash/170637539/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=19 April 2025}}

• 30 January – Western Australia wins the 1974–75 Sheffield Shield season finishing at the top of the table ahead of Queensland by five points.{{cite news|last=McFarline|first=Peter|date=11 March 1975|title=WA by five points|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-wa-by-five-points/155391379/|work=The Age|page=28|access-date=16 September 2024}}

• 2 February – A $100,000 "winner takes all" tennis match between Australia's Rod Laver and the United States' Jimmy Connors is held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, refereed by Pancho Gonzales. Connors wins 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Red|date=4 February 1975|title=Jim's power k.o's Rod|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-jims-power-kos-rod/170757521/|work=The Age|page=21|access-date=21 April 2025}}

• 15 March – The Tommy Smith-trained Toy Show ridden by Kevin Langby wins the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse.{{cite news|last=Lillye|first=Bert|date=16 March 1975|title=Toy Show beats all handicaps|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-toy-show-beats/170707787/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=32|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• 16 March – Australia is represented by twelve long-distance runners (eight men, four women) at the third IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Rabat, Morocco. Bill Scott is Australia's best finisher, claiming the 22nd spot (36:28.0) in the race over 12 kilometres.
• 31 March – Jean-Louis Ravelomanantsoa wins the Stawell Gift.{{cite news|last=Knox|first=Ken|date=1 April 1975|title='Rav' revs to triumph|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-rav-revs-to-triumph/170708132/|work=The Age|page=24|access-date=20 April 2025}}

• 9 April – The British Boxing Board of Control warns Tony Mundine that he could be stripped of his Commonwealth middleweight title unless he agrees within nine days to fight Carlos Marks.{{cite news|author=|date=10 April 1975|title=Mundine ordered to fight|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-mundine-ordere/170758203/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=21|access-date=21 April 2025}}
• 14 April – After a lengthy professional career which included winning the Australian Women's Amateur championship in 1957, golfer Burtta Cheney announces her retirement from the sport.{{cite news|last=McMahon|first=Peg|date=15 April 1975|title=Pennant golf will miss Burtta Cheney|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-pennant-golf-will-miss-burtta-ch/170758950/|work=The Age|page=32|access-date=22 April 2025}}

• 11 May – Czechoslovakia defeats Australia 3–0 in the 1975 Federation Cup held in Aix-en-Provence, France.{{cite news|date=13 May 1975|title=Martina powers Czechs to cup|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-martina-powers-czechs-to-cup/155391181/|work=The Age|page=26|access-date=16 September 2024}}
• 12 May – After discovering Australia's oldest living gold medalist, 77-year-old Mina Wylie could not afford to travel to the United States for her induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, a rushed fundraising effort is launched by New South Wales politician Neil Pickard who pledged $100 of his own money before donations from Lady Violet Braddon (widow of Sir Henry Braddon) and Sir Peter Abeles were also received.{{cite news|date=13 May 1975|title=Ex-Olympic star racing against time|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-ex-olympic-sta/157664968/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=23 October 2024}} Enough money was eventually raised to enable Wylie to travel to the United States.{{cite news|date=15 May 2024|title=Former swim star off to Hall of Fame|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-former-swim-st/157666494/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=23 October 2024}}

• 1 June – Australia defeat New Zealand 36-8 in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup match played at Brisbane's Lang Park.{{cite news|last=Clarkson|first=Alan|date=2 June 1975|title=Australia, League 'losers'|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-australia-lea/170751545/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=16|access-date=21 April 2025}}
• 10 June – A Rugby League World Cup match is played at Lang Park in Brisbane where Wales defeat England 12-7.{{cite news|last=Pearce|first=Col|date=11 June 1975|title=Wales pack 12-7 wallop|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-wales-pack-12/170751708/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=13|access-date=21 April 2025}}
• 14 June – Australia defeat Wales 30-13 in the Rugby League World Cup match played at the Sydney Cricket Ground.{{cite news|last=Clarkson|first=Alan|date=15 June 1975|title=Australia push aside Welsh series bid|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-australia-push/170751919/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=40|access-date=21 April 2025}}
• 21 June - Australia defeat France 26-6 in the Rugby League World Cup match played at Brisbane's Lang Park.{{cite news|author=|date=22 June 1975|title=Mixed game from Australian team|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-mixed-game-fro/170752920/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=56|access-date=21 April 2025}}

• 4 July – Australian tennis player Evonne Cawley is defeated by Billie-Jean King 6-0, 6-1 in the women's singles at the 1975 Wimbledon Championships.{{cite news|author=|date=5 July 1975|title=Evonne's day of shame: 6-1, 6-1 annihilation in just 41 minutes|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-evonnes-day-o/162832025/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=57|access-date=12 January 2025}}
• 5 July – Upon hearing the full time siren, hundreds of children invade the Sydney Cricket Ground despite the rugby league match between Easts and Manly-Warringah not having concluded, forcing the referee, the touch judges, two police constables and the players to attempt to clear the playing area.{{cite news|last=Clarkson|first=Alan|date=6 July 1975|title=Incredible Fairfax kicks a winner - a 40 metre field goal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-incredible-fai/162835114/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=55|access-date=12 January 2025}} The risk of injury to the children prompts the NSW minister for sport John Barraclough to appeal to the SCG Trust to ban children from running onto the field after matches.{{cite news|author=|date=7 July 2025|title=New plan to keep children off field|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-new-plan-to-ke/162834651/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=12 January 2025}}
• 6 July – A Bell helicopter is used to dry out the water logged playing areas at Belmore Sports Ground and Leichhardt Oval in Sydney which allowed two scheduled New South Wales Rugby League games to go ahead.{{cite news|author=|date=7 July 1975|title=Helicopter used to dry out football grounds|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-helicopter-use/162847370/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=12 January 2025}}
• 13 July – The Bill Cosby Pro-Celebrity Charity Tennis Event is held at White City Stadium at Rushcutters Bay to raise money for the National Heart Foundation of Australia. The event sees celebrities such as Bill Cosby, Barry Crocker, Don Lane, Bob Rogers, Mike Willesee, John Cootes, Jimmy Hannan and Tony Barber playing against professional tennis players such as Lesley Bowrey, Jan O'Neill and Mervyn Rose.{{cite news|author=|date=14 July 1975|title=White City bemused by goings-on called tennis|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-white-city-bem/164054071/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=12|access-date=27 January 2025}}

• 9 August – John Farrington wins his fourth men's national marathon title, clocking 2:17:20 in Point Cook.
• 19 August – The final day of the Third Test between Australia and England at Headingly is abandoned due to vandalism to the wicket overnight allegedly carried out by supporters of George Davis.{{cite news|last=Monks|first=T S|date=20 August 1975|title=Vandals dig up pitch, Test is abandoned|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-vandals-dig-up/158827174/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1|access-date=11 November 2024}}
• 23 August:
• Glenelg kick the all-time record score for a major Australian football competition, kicking 49.23 (317) to Central District's 11.13 (79). Fred Phillis kicked eighteen goals and Peter Carey eight.
• Eastern Suburbs set a record NSWRL/ARL/NRL winning streak of their last nineteen home-and-away games before losing the major semi-final.
• 25 August – An Australian women's soccer team captained by Pat O'Connor are defeated by Thailand 3-2 in Hong Kong in a Group A match of the 1975 Asian Cup Ladies Football Tournament.{{cite book|author=|date=2022|title=History of the AFC Women's Asian Cup: 1975 Hong Kong - 1st Asian Cup: Ladies Football Tournament Hong Kong|url=https://assets.the-afc.com/AFC_Womens_Asian_Cup_2022/Downloads/AFC-Women%27s-Asian-Cup-History-Book.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113050518/https://assets.the-afc.com/AFC_Womens_Asian_Cup_2022/Downloads/AFC-Women%27s-Asian-Cup-History-Book.pdf|archive-date=13 January 2022|publisher=Asian Football Confederation, International Centre for Sport Studies (CIES). FIFA Museum|pages=25-32|access-date=21 April 2025}} The Australian team are a representative team consisting mostly of players from suburban Sydney club St George-Budapest, but were not official international players until they were controversially recognised in 2024 as the first Matildas which prompts anger and disappointment from former Matildas who describe the decision as disrespectful to the women who were formally chosen to represent Australia from 1978 onwards.{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Samantha|date=1 July 2024|title=The 'First Matildas'? Football Australia rewrites history with official caps for 1975 team|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-01/first-matildas-football-australia-rewrites-history-1975/104042436|work=ABC News|access-date=21 April 2025}}{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Samantha|date=5 July 2024|title='It's bull****': Matildas alumni criticise Football Australia's recognition of 1975 team|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-05/matildas-alumni-criticise-football-australia-1975-recognition/104056754|work=ABC News|access-date=21 April 2025}} The decision to elevate the 1975 team to official status also results in Tarita Yvonne Peters (who played under the name Stacey Tracy) becoming the first women's Indigenous player to represent Australia, a title which was previously held by Karen Menzies.{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Samantha|date=24 November 2021|title=Meet Karen Menzies, Australia's first Indigenous Matilda|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-24/karen-menzies-first-indigenous-matilda/100642786|work=ABC News|access-date=21 April 2025}}{{cite news|author=|date=2 July 2024|title=‘Farcical’: Matildas greats at war over shock call to hand ‘club side’ top Aussie honour|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/matildas/farcical-matildas-greats-at-war-over-shock-call-to-hand-club-side-top-aussie-honour/news-story/7170e61bfb6102cf64379487ebec1ff2|work=Fox Sports|access-date=21 April 2025|quote=It also rewrites Karen Menzies’ place in history as Australia’s first Indigenous Matilda. That honour now belongs to Aunty Tarita Yvonne Peters.}}
• 29 August – Australia defeat Singapore 3-0 in Hong Kong in their second Group A match of the 1975 Asian Cup Ladies Football Tournament.
• 31 August –
• Western Australian jockey Raymond Oliver dies at Royal Perth Hospital from injuries sustained when five horses fell during a race at the Boulder Cup in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.{{cite news|author=|date=1 September 1975|title=Jockey in fall dies|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-jockey-in-fall/169912506/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=9 April 2025}} His son Damien Oliver is three years at the time of his father's death but subsequently has a successful career as a jockey which includes riding three Melbourne Cup winners.{{cite news|last=Manning|first=Ernie|date=15 December 2023|title=Damien Oliver was destined for greatness from day one as he retires as Australia’s best|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/horse-racing/ernie-manning-damien-oliver-was-destined-for-greatness-from-day-one-as-he-retires-as-australias-best-c-12915134|work=The West Australian|access-date=9 April 2025}}
• Australia are defeated by New Zealand 3-2 in a knock-out semi-final of the 1975 Asian Cup Ladies Football Tournament in Hong Kong.

• 2 September – Australia defeat Malaysia 5-0 in the third place play-off of the 1975 Asian Cup Ladies Football Tournament in Hong Kong.{{cite news|author=|date=3 September 1975|title=Australian soccer girls third|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-australian-soc/170745088/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=25|access-date=21 April 2025}}
• 20 September – Minor premiers Eastern Suburbs set a record NSWRL Grand Final winning margin, beating St. George 38 points to nil.{{cite news|last=Clarkson|first=Alan|date=21 September 1975|title=This was just champion, Easts|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-this-was-just/155508686/|work=The Sun-Herald|pages=33, 50|access-date=18 September 2024}} South Sydney finish in last position, claiming the wooden spoon.
• 27 September –
• Australia defeat New Zealand 24-8 in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup match at Carlaw Park in Auckland.{{cite news|author=|date=28 September 1975|title=Brass boys shine... and kill series|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-brass-boys-shi/170753388/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=68|access-date=21 April 2025}}
• North Melbourne become the last of the then-extant VFL clubs to win a premiership, beating Hawthorn 19.8 (122) to 9.13 (67) in the 1975 VFL Grand Final.{{cite news|date=28 September 1975|title=Barassi boys notch Norths first ever|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-barassi-boys-n/155508499/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=71|access-date=18 September 2024}}

• 5 October –
• Peter Brock and co-driver Brian Sampson win the 1975 Hardie Ferodo 1000 in their Holden Torana SL/R 5000 L34.{{cite news|last=Christensen|first=Phillip|date=6 October 1975|title=Hardie Ferodo win for Brock|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-hardie-ferodo/170683676/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=1, 3, 21|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• The fourth annual Spastic Centre charity match is held at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney which sees Ian Chappell's XI defeat Tony Greig's XI.{{cite news|author=|date=6 October 1975|title=Hawke strikes out for charity: 10,000 see him outdo galaxy of Test stars|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-hawke-strikes/170683020/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|pages=1,8|access-date=20 April 2025}} Union leader Bob Hawke top scores, making 39 runs before being bowled out by Max Walker.
• 18 October – Cyril Beechey-trained Analight, a 33-1 outsider ridden by Pat Trotter, wins the Caulfield Cup at Caulfield Racecourse.{{cite news|last=Lillye|first=Bert|date=19 October 1975|title=Longshot's Cup: Analight's 33-1 harvest for books|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-longshots-cup/170707639/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=49|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• 19 October – Australia defeats Wales 18-6 in the Rugby League World Cup match at St Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea, during which Ian Schubert scores a hat-trick of tries.{{cite news|author=|date=20 October 1975|title=Hat-trick Schubert stars: A brawling 18-6 win by Australia|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-hat-trick-schu/170753735/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=23|access-date=21 April 2025}}
• 25 October – The Wally McEwan-trained Fury's Order, ridden by 17 year old apprentice jockey Brent Thomson wins the W. S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse in very wet conditions.{{cite news|last=Lillye|first=Bert|date=26 October 1975|title=Fury's Order wins in wet - then races abandoned|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-furys-order-w/170707525/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=54|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• 26 October – Australia defeat France 41-2 in the Rugby League World Cup match played at Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan.{{cite news|author=|date=27 October 1975|title=Australia lead France|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-australia-lead/170754148/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=15|access-date=21 April 2025}}

• 1 November – Australia are defeated by England 16-13 in the Rugby League World Cup match played at Central Park in Wigan.{{cite news|author=|date=3 November 1975|title=Disputed try sinks Australia; not 'sour grapes'|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-disputed-try-s/170754402/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=23|access-date=21 April 2025}}
• 2 November – American golfer Jack Nicklaus wins his fourth Australian Open championship with a three-stroke victory, posting a last round par of 72 for a total of 279.{{cite news|last=Webster|first=Jim|date=3 November 1975|title=Nicklaus walkover: Opposition wilts in dreary open|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-nicklaus-walko/170707938/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=21|access-date=20 April 2025}}
• 4 November – The Bart Cummings-trained Think Big, ridden by Harry White, wins the Melbourne Cup.{{cite news|last=Bourke|first=Tony|date=5 November 1975|title=Late start Tunku scores Cup first|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-late-start-tunku-scores-cup-firs/155072119/|work=The Age|page=1|access-date=11 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024906/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-late-start-tunku-scores-cup-firs/155072119/|url-status=live}}
• 12 November – Australia wins the 1975 Rugby League World Cup which concludes with a one-off challenge match between Australia and England at Headingley Rugby Stadium which Australia win, 25-0.{{cite news|author=|date=14 November 1975|title=League tour has a lame ending|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-league-tour-ha/170755282/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=19|access-date=21 April 2025}}

• 29 December – Rampage is declared the handicap winner of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race while Kialoa takes line honours.{{cite news|date=30 December 1975|title=WA yacht winner to Hobart|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-wa-yacht-winne/155507993/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=4|access-date=18 September 2024}}

• 2 January – Chris Cheney, singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer
• 17 January – Rob Stokes, politician and lawyer
• 19 January – Natalie Cook, beach volleyball player
• 4 February – Natalie Imbruglia, singer and actor
• 7 March – Leon Dunne, swimmer
• 13 March – Matt Sing, rugby league player
• 19 March – Matthew Richardson, footballer and sportscaster
• 19 April – Jason Gillespie, cricketer
• 13 May – Nathan Green, golfer
• 21 May – Anthony Mundine, rugby league footballer and boxer
• 27 May – Michael Hussey, cricketer
• 7 June – Leigh Colbert, footballer
• 9 June – Andrew Symonds, cricketer
• 23 June
• Jane Jamieson, track and field athlete
• Markus Zusak, novelist
• 2 July – Daniel Kowalski, swimmer
• 4 July – Scott Major, actor and director
• 5 July – Kip Gamblin, actor
• 7 July – Michael Voss, Australian footballer and coach
• 17 July – Loretta Harrop, triathlete
• 7 August
• Megan Gale, model
• David Matthew Hicks, prisoner at Guantánamo Bay, convicted of "providing material support for terrorism"
• 12 August – Taryn Woods, water polo player
• 21 August – Simon Katich, cricketer
• 25 August – Petria Thomas, swimmer
• 1 September – Natalie Bassingthwaighte, singer and actor{{cite web | url = http://www.take40.com/artists/3779/natalie-bassingthwaighte/bio | title = Natalie Bassingthwaighte – Biography | work = Take 40 Australia | publisher = MCM Entertainment | access-date = 19 December 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120511105346/http://www.take40.com/artists/3779/natalie-bassingthwaighte/bio | archive-date = 11 May 2012 | df = dmy-all }}
• 16 September – Shannon Noll, singer
• 18 September – Don Hany, actor
• 25 September – Scott Westcott, long-distance runner
• 28 September – Stuart Clark, cricketer
• 9 October – Mark Viduka, football (soccer) player
• 23 October – Phillip Gillespie, cricket umpire
• 31 October
• Carla Boyd, basketball player
• Jagan Hames, track and field athlete
• 18 December – SIA, Australian singer and songwriter

• 12 February – Eric Strain, yachtsman (b. 1915){{cite news|author=|date=14 February 1975|title=Leading yachtsman Eric Strain dies|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-leading-yachts/170756193/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=16|access-date=21 April 2025}}
• 30 April –
• Aubrey Abbott, politician and administrator of the Northern Territory (b. 1886){{Cite book |chapter-url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/abbott-charles-lydiard-aubrey-9301 |title=Abbott, Charles Lydiard Aubrey (1886–1975) |chapter=Charles Lydiard Aubrey Abbott (1886–1975) |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |access-date=28 January 2023 |archive-date=28 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128104719/https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/abbott-charles-lydiard-aubrey-9301 |url-status=live }}
• Mabel Brookes, humanitarian (b. 1890){{cite news|date=1 May 1975|title=Dame Mabel Brookes dies, aged 84|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-dame-mabel-bro/157414841/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|pages=1, 10|access-date=19 October 2024}}
• 27 June – Kevin Yow Yeh, rugby league player (b. 1941)
• 30 June – Bert Milliner, Queensland politician (b. 1911)
• 10 August – Neva Carr Glyn, actress (b. 1908){{cite news|author=|date=11 August 2025|title='Grand old lady of Australian theatre' dies|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-grand-old-lad/164951382/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=8 February 2025}}
• 14 August – Percy Cerutty, athletics coach (b. 1895){{cite news|date=15 August 1975|title=Ahead of his time|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-ahead-of-his-time/155121513/|work=The Age|page=14|access-date=12 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912030101/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-ahead-of-his-time/155121513/|url-status=live}}
• 27 September – Jack Lang, 23rd Premier of New South Wales (b. 1876){{cite news|date=28 September 1975|title=Ex-premier Jack Lang dies at 98|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-ex-premier-jac/155121255/|work=The Sun-Herald|page=2|access-date=12 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912030102/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-ex-premier-jac/155121255/|url-status=live}}
• 6 November – Annette Kellerman, swimmer, actress, and author (b. 1887){{cite news|date=7 November 1975|title=Australian swim great dies|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-australian-swim-great-dies/155121384/|work=The Age|page=13|access-date=12 September 2024|archive-date=12 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912030103/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-australian-swim-great-dies/155121384/|url-status=live}}
• 27 November – Joan Stevenson Abbott, World War II army hospital matron (b. 1899)[https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/abbott-joan-stevenson-judy-9302 Joan Stevenson (Judy) Abbott (1899–1975)]
• 30 November – Sir Donald Anderson, former Qantas chairman and Department of Civil Aviation director-general (b. 1917){{cite news|author=|date=1 December 1975|title=Sir Donald Anderson dies, 58|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-sir-donald-anderson-dies-58/164207488/|work=The Age|page=2|access-date=29 January 2025}}

• 1975 in Australian television
• List of Australian films of 1975

{{reflist}}

{{Years in Australia}}

{{Oceania topic|1975 in|countries_only=yes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1975 in Australia}}

Australia

Category:Years of the 20th century in Australia