Login
Login

2008 in Australia

{{short description|none}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}

{{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}}

The following lists events that happened during 2008 in Australia.

{{Year in Australia|2008}}

{{Infobox Australian year

| monarch = Elizabeth II

| governor-general = Michael Jeffery, then Quentin Bryce

| pm = Kevin Rudd

| population =

| australian =

| elections = NT, WA, ACT

}}

Incumbents

{{multiple image

| direction=horizontal

| align=right

| caption_align=center

| total_width=280

| image1=Jeffery Michael 030238DI-002.jpg

| caption1=Michael Jeffery

| image2=Quentin Bryce No.1 (cropped).jpg

| caption2=Quentin Bryce

}}

File:Kevin Rudd official portrait.jpg]]

=State and territory leaders=

=Governors and administrators=

Events

=Entire year=

  • Year of the Scout.[http://www.scouts.com.au/main.asp?iStoryID=12600854 2008 – Year of the Scout] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221062234/http://www.scouts.com.au/main.asp?iStoryID=12600854 |date=21 December 2007 }}, Scouts Australia.
  • Year of Physical Activity.[http://education.qld.gov.au/news/btsmedia/pdf/b2s-08-year-of-physical-activity.pdf]{{dead link|date=August 2012}}, Queensland Education.
  • Guy Sebastian represents Australia in the pre-qualifying round of Eurovision 2008.

=January=

  • 1 January onwards – Torrential rain causes widespread flooding and damage to parts of South East Queensland and the North Coast of New South Wales.
  • 11 January – An Airbus A319 lands at the new Wilkins Runway in the Australian Antarctic Territory, becoming the first passenger flight from Australia to Antarctica.[http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/historic-flight-lands-in-antarctica/2008/01/11/1199988538801.html Historic flight lands in Antarctica] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024073551/http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/historic-flight-lands-in-antarctica/2008/01/11/1199988538801.html |date=24 October 2016 }}, Sydney Morning Herald, 11 January 2008.
  • 15 January – An Australian Sea Shepherd Conservation Society activist, Benjamin Potts, and his British colleague, Giles Lane, are detained on board the Japanese whaling vessel Yushin Maru No. 2 after boarding the ship which was inside the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary near Antarctica.Darby, Andrew: [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/01/15/1200159455319.html Whale activists 'captured'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118181419/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/01/15/1200159455319.html |date=18 January 2008 }}, The Age, 16 January 2008.
  • 15 January – Victoria Police officers use capsicum spray to subdue unruly Greek spectators at the 2008 Australian Open, during a match between Konstantinos Economidis and Fernando González.[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,323115,00.html Police Use Pepper Spray on Fans at Australian Open After Racial Slur Allegations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119130150/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,323115,00.html |date=19 January 2008 }}, Fox News Channel, 16 January 2008.
  • 17 January – An explosion in a wine processing shed at Drayton's Winery in the New South Wales Hunter Valley kills two men including winery owner Trevor Drayton, and injures one.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/17/2140664.htm Winery owner killed in blast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117195406/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/17/2140664.htm |date=17 January 2008 }}, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 17 January 2008.
  • 23 January – After 128 years, the final edition of The Bulletin is published. Its demise was announced on 20 January.[http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=371078 ACP Magazines announces closure of The Bulletin magazine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127094727/http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=371078 |date=27 January 2008 }}, The Bulletin (via ninemsn), 24 January 2008.

=February=

  • 8 February – A controversial plan to deepen Melbourne's shipping channels by dredging Port Phillip Bay begins.Shanahan, Leo: [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/paddlers-take-on-dredger/2008/02/08/1202234111677.html Paddling protesters challenge dredger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216044006/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/paddlers-take-on-dredger/2008/02/08/1202234111677.html |date=16 February 2008 }}, The Age, 8 February 2008.
  • 12 February – Federal Parliament was opened with a Welcome to Country, the first time in its history that this has occurred.{{cite news|title=A historic first: traditional Indigenous welcome begins Parliament|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/02/12/2160380.htm|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=2 August 2018|date=12 February 2008|archive-date=21 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821071241/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/02/12/2160380.htm|url-status=live}}
  • 13 February – An apology containing the word "sorry" is made by Kevin Rudd to Indigenous Australians for the stolen generation as the first order of business of the new Parliament.{{ cite news

| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/13/2161227.htm

| title=Rudd: We say sorry

| publisher=ABC

| work=ABC News Online

| date=13 February 2008

| access-date=2008-02-13

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080220013244/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/13/2161227.htm| archive-date= 20 February 2008 | url-status= dead}}

  • 22 February – Parliament descends into chaos with opposition frontbenchers ejected, question time suspended and speakers unable to control the house. A cardboard cut-out of the Prime Minister is brought into the parliament by opposition members angry about sitting time on a Friday.{{ cite news

| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/22/2169665.htm

| title=Cardboard Rudd sparks uproar in Parliament

| publisher=ABC

| work=ABC News Online

| date=22 February 2008

| access-date=2008-02-22

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080225054500/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/22/2169665.htm| archive-date= 25 February 2008 | url-status= dead}}

=March=

  • 12 March – Adelaide experiences a national record heat wave for an Australian capital city, recording over ten straight days of temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius.[http://www.skynews.com.au/news/article.aspx?id=222539 Record heatwave in SA]{{dead link|date=August 2012}}, Sky News, 12 March 2008.
  • 14 March – Former New South Wales government minister Milton Orkopoulos is found guilty of 28 charges of child sex offences and the supply of drugs.Dart, Jonathan: [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/orkopoulos-found-guilty/2008/03/14/1205126170243.html Orkopoulos found guilty], The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 March 2008.
  • 16 March – The South Australian heat wave continues with Adelaide experiencing its 14th straight day of temperatures above 35 degrees.
  • 16 March – The Finding Sydney Foundation announces it has located the wrecks of the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney and the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran, which both sunk after a battle in 1941.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/hmas-sydney-located/2008/03/17/1205602232577.htmlHMAS Sydney located: report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024085243/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/hmas-sydney-located/2008/03/17/1205602232577.htmlHMAS |date=24 October 2012 }}, The Age, 17 March 2008.
  • 26 March – At the Council of Australian Governments meeting, the Victorian government agrees to take part in a A$10 billion rescue plan for the Murray-Darling Basin, after 15 months of negotiations.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/environment/1bn-murray-river-deal-finally-done/2008/03/26/1206207209411.html $1bn Murray breakthrough] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616011039/http://www.theage.com.au/news/environment/1bn-murray-river-deal-finally-done/2008/03/26/1206207209411.html |date=16 June 2011 }}, The Age, 27 March 2008.
  • 27 March – The Opes Prime stockbroking firm collapses, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission announces it is conducting an investigation into the firm's activities.[http://abc.com.au/news/stories/2008/03/31/2203813.htm Authorities probe Opes Prime collapse] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605230945/http://abc.com.au/news/stories/2008/03/31/2203813.htm |date=5 June 2011 }}, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 31 March 2008.
  • 28 March – Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited closes its Clovelly Park manufacturing facility, ending more than 40 years of manufacturing at the site.[http://au.news.yahoo.com/080204/2/15qby.html Mitsubishi to close SA plant in March] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208044120/http://au.news.yahoo.com/080204/2/15qby.html |date=8 February 2008 }}, Australian Associated Press (via Yahoo!7), 5 February 2008
  • 30 March – The extension of daylight saving time by a week to standardise time in New South Wales, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and South Australia causes a "mini-Y2K problem" as computer systems, mobile phones and even the "time man" incorrectly adjust the time back one hour.Schneiders, Ben: [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/at-the-third-stroke-it-will-be-one-hour-ago/2008/03/30/1206850707204.html At the third stroke it will be one hour ago] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403002154/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/at-the-third-stroke-it-will-be-one-hour-ago/2008/03/30/1206850707204.html |date=3 April 2008 }}, The Age, 31 March 2008.
  • 30 March – The gag order applied to David Hicks by the Guantanamo military commission is lifted, allowing him to discuss his detainment at Guantanamo Bay detention camp.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/david-hicks-free-to-talk/2008/03/30/1206815301644.html David Hicks free to talk], The Age, 30 March 2008.

=April=

  • 18 April – Nick D'Arcy has his Beijing ticket terminated following an incident at a nightclub involving former swimmer Simon Cowley.
  • 19 April – The Australia 2020 Summit begins in Canberra.
  • 30 April – The Victorian government agrees to implement safety measures for Melbourne taxi drivers, after dozens of taxis blockade the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Streets following the stabbing of a driver the previous day.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/30/2231645.htm Melbourne taxi drivers end blockade] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502095830/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/30/2231645.htm |date=2 May 2008 }}, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 30 April 2008.

=May=

  • 1 May – Five people are killed when a runabout collides with a fishing boat on Sydney Harbour.[http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/five-killed-as-sydney-harbour-runabout-hits-fishing-boat-photo-peter-rae/2008/05/01/1209234987504.html Five killed in late-night Sydney Harbour boat crash] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505080941/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/five-killed-as-sydney-harbour-runabout-hits-fishing-boat-photo-peter-rae/2008/05/01/1209234987504.html |date=5 May 2008 }}, The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 May 2008.
  • 17 May – Fugitive gangster Tony Mokbel arrives in Australia following his extradition from Greece.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/17/2247878.htm Mokbel lands in Melbourne] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517234912/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/17/2247878.htm |date=17 May 2008 }}, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 17 May 2008.
  • 22 May
  • Revolutionary Australian forum television programme Q&A broadcasts its first episode.{{Cite web|url=http://www.youthengagement.com.au/traditional-media-engagement/qa-case-study/|title=Q&A Case Study | Youth Engagement|access-date=9 July 2018|archive-date=9 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709114447/http://www.youthengagement.com.au/traditional-media-engagement/qa-case-study/|url-status=live}}
  • Colin Campbell Ross, hanged in 1922 for the Gun Alley Murder, is granted an official pardon.Kevin Morgan (2012) Gun Alley: Murder, Lies and Failure of Justice (2nd Ed., updated). Hardie Grant Books (Australia) Melbourne. {{ISBN|9781742702667}}
  • 26 May – Paul Lennon announces his resignation as Premier of Tasmania. His deputy, David Bartlett, is sworn in as the new Premier later in the day.Darby, Andrew: [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/tasmanian-premier-lennon-resigns/2008/05/26/1211653882094.html Tasmanian premier Lennon announces resignation], The Age, 26 May 2008.
  • 26 May – Camden Council in Sydney votes unanimously to reject a proposal to build a 1,200 student Islamic school in the area.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/27/2257402.htm Camden Council opposes Islamic school development] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529051826/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/27/2257402.htm |date=29 May 2008 }}, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 27 May 2008.

=June=

  • 1 June – Australia ends its combat operations in Iraq, withdrawing approximately 550 troops from the region.[https://archive.today/20120719003047/http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL0164801020080601 Australia withdraws troops from Iraq], Reuters, 1 June 2008.
  • 3 June – A gas explosion at a plant on Varanus Island in Western Australia severely disrupts gas supplies to the state.[http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=76927 Gas plant explosion exposes State's vulnerability], The West Australian, 4 June 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605061318/http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=76927 |date=5 June 2008 }}
  • 8 June – It is revealed that New South Wales Education Minister John Della Bosca and his wife, federal Member for Robertson Belinda Neal, were allegedly involved in an altercation at a nightclub in Gosford, New South Wales.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/apology-for-della-bosca/2008/06/08/1212863429807.html|title=Club offers apology after NSW MP flags legal action|date=8 June 2008|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2008-06-19|archive-date=11 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611055423/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/apology-for-della-bosca/2008/06/08/1212863429807.html|url-status=live}}
  • 28 June – A by-election is held in the federal seat of Gippsland following the resignation of the sitting MP, Peter McGauran. Darren Chester wins the by-election, retaining the seat for the National Party.

=July=

=August=

  • 8 August – The Australian Federal Police conduct what is claimed to be the world's biggest ecstasy drugs bust, seizing A$440 million worth of the drug.[http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/worlds-biggest-ecstasy-bust/2008/08/08/1218139079745.html World's biggest ecstasy bust] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080810064507/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/worlds-biggest-ecstasy-bust/2008/08/08/1218139079745.html |date=10 August 2008 }}, The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 August 2008.
  • 9 August – A general election is held in the Northern Territory with the Australian Labor Party retaining government.

=September=

=October=

  • 10 October – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd receives a phone call from U.S. President George W. Bush during a dinner party at The Lodge. A subsequent edition of The Australian newspaper reports that during the call, President Bush asked Rudd what the G-20 was. Although the White House and the Prime Minister deny this exchange took place, the Opposition uses the event to question Mr Rudd's discretion.Grattan, Michelle: [http://www.theage.com.au/national/rudd-pressed-on-bush-call-20081110-5lq4.html Rudd pressed on Bush call] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227230723/http://www.theage.com.au/national/rudd-pressed-on-bush-call-20081110-5lq4.html |date=27 December 2008 }},The Age, 11 November 2008.
  • 18 October – A general election is held in the Australian Capital Territory.
  • 20 October – Qantas commercially flies the Airbus A380 for the first time.

=November=

  • 16 November – The Gap, Queensland and surrounding areas are affected by severe thunderstorms with Microburst.{{cite web |title=SEQ Severe Thunderstorm and Microburst at The Gap |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/qld/cyclone/thunderstorms/16Nov2008/qldth20081116.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514111558/http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/qld/cyclone/thunderstorms/16Nov2008/qldth20081116.shtml |archive-date=14 May 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=2009-09-28 |df=dmy-all }}

=December=

  • 15 December – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announces that Australia will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by five per cent of 2000 levels by the year 2020, with an option to reduce by 15 per cent if other developing countries take similar action. The announcement is criticised by the Australian Greens and environmental groups as not going far enough.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/15/2446466.htm Rudd locks in 5pc emissions cut] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218003203/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/15/2446466.htm |date=18 December 2008 }}, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 15 December 2008.

Arts and literature

{{main|2008 in Australian literature}}

  • 7 March – Del Kathryn Barton wins the 2008 Archibald Prize for You are what is most beautiful about me, a self portrait with Kell and Arella, a self-portrait with her children.[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/03/07/1204780034685.html Del Kathryn Barton wins Archibald] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310182155/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/03/07/1204780034685.html |date=10 March 2008 }}, The Sydney Morning Herald, 7 March 2008.
  • 13 March – Australian author Sonya Hartnett wins the 2008 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for young adult literature.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/books/australian-author-wins-astrid-lindgren-prize/2008/03/13/1205126059159.html Australian author wins Astrid Lindgren prize] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313234658/http://www.theage.com.au/news/books/australian-author-wins-astrid-lindgren-prize/2008/03/13/1205126059159.html |date=13 March 2008 }}, The Age, 13 March 2008.
  • 23 May – New South Wales Police seize a number of photographs depicting naked children by artist Bill Henson which were to be exhibited the previous day.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/23/2253293.htm?section=entertainment Police quiz photographer over nude shots] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230143917/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/23/2253293.htm?section=entertainment |date=30 December 2010 }}, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 22 May 2008.
  • 19 June – Steven Carroll's novel The Time We Have Taken wins the Miles Franklin Award{{cite web|last=Steger|first=Jason|title=Third book is a charm for author|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bbooksb-tale-of-70s-melbourne-wins-miles-franklin-award/2008/06/19/1213770827149.html|publisher=The Age|date=20 June 2008|access-date=23 September 2008|archive-date=19 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119012343/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bbooksb-tale-of-70s-melbourne-wins-miles-franklin-award/2008/06/19/1213770827149.html|url-status=live}}
  • 12 September – Steven Conte's novel The Zookeeper's War wins the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Fiction, and Ochre and Rust: Artefacts and Encounters on Australian Frontiers by Philip Jones wins the Non-Fiction award.{{cite web|title=The 2008 winners|url=http://www.arts.gov.au/books/pmliteraryawards/2008_winners |access-date=23 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121181319/http://www.arts.gov.au/books/pmliteraryawards/2008_winners |archive-date=21 November 2008 }}, Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
  • 19 September – First-time novelist Andrew Croome wins the Vogel Literary Award for his manuscript about the Petrov affair, Document Z.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/19/2368831.htm?section=entertainment First-time novelist wins Vogel prize] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919205232/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/19/2368831.htm?section=entertainment |date=19 September 2008 }}, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 19 September 2008.
  • 15 October – Indian-Australian journalist Aravind Adiga wins the 2008 Man Booker Prize for his debut novel, The White Tiger.[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/10/15/1223750076954.html Aravind Adiga wins Booker prize] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018095854/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/10/15/1223750076954.html |date=18 October 2008 }}, The Age, 15 October 2008.

=Arts and literature award winners=

Science and technology

  • 5 August – Google Street View images of Australian city streets are added to Google Maps and Google Earth software.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/biztech/global-backlash-as-google-launches-street-view/2008/08/05/1217701932020.html Smile Australia, you're on Google's candid camera], The Age, 5 August 2008.

Film

Television

{{main|2008 in Australian television}}

  • 5 January – Fox Sports commentator, Clinton Grybas, dies at 32 as a result of falling whilst sleepwalking.
  • 14 January – Nine Network revamps its logo and on-air graphics as a part of a new network re-launch, and after a two-year absence, returns the famous "Nine Balls" logo, except instead of balls, they use discs.
  • 7 February – Veteran television presenter Ray Martin quits the Nine Network after 30 years with the network.{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Idato|author2=Bibby, Paul|title=Not the retiring type: Martin quits Nine|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/not-the-retiring-type-martin-quits-nine/2008/02/07/1202234065932.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=8 February 2008|access-date=2008-02-08|archive-date=13 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413084321/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/not-the-retiring-type-martin-quits-nine/2008/02/07/1202234065932.html|url-status=live}}
  • 8 February – At 12:00 PM AEDT ABC TV officially became ABC1.{{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|title=Welcome ABC1..... bye bye ABC TV!|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2008/02/welcome-abc1-bye-bye-abc-tv.html|publisher=tvtonight.com.au|date=8 February 2008|access-date=2008-02-08| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080210043946/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2008/02/welcome-abc1-bye-bye-abc-tv.html| archive-date= 10 February 2008 | url-status= dead}}
  • 8 February – Former The Great Outdoors host Shelley Craft quits Channel Seven and moves to Channel Nine to take over from Toni Pearen as host of Australia's Funniest Home Videos.
  • 12 February – The Supreme Court of Victoria places an injunction on the broadcast and exhibition of the Nine Network's drama series Underbelly in Victoria, following concerns that the series, which depicts Melbourne's gangland wars, could prejudice an ongoing murder trial.[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23200542-29277,00.html Underbelly blocked by murder trial judge]{{dead link|date=August 2012}}, Herald Sun, 12 February 2008.
  • 14 March – A Current Affair broadcasts its 5000th episode and celebrates its 20th anniversary.
  • 17 March – The Nine Network launches its high-definition television channel, Nine HD.
  • 3 April – Kate Ritchie (Sally Fletcher), one of the original cast members of Home and Away, leaves the series after 20 years.
  • 7 April – The Nine Network makes the first episodes of the new series Canal Road available for download over the Internet, ahead of its television broadcast on 16 April.[http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23496341-1702,00.html Nine downloads series ahead of TV launch]{{dead link|date=August 2012}}, News Limited, 7 April 2008.
  • 27 April – Jack Chambers wins the first series of So You Think You Can Dance Australia.Cubby, Ben: [http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/jack-the-top-dancer/2008/04/27/1209234657923.html Jack the top dancer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430211101/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/jack-the-top-dancer/2008/04/27/1209234657923.html? |date=30 April 2008 }}, The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 April 2008.
  • 4 May – The 2008 Logie Awards are held. Kate Ritchie (formerly of Home and Away) wins the Gold Logie for the second year in a row.Dubecki, Larissa: [http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/kate-wins-gold/2008/05/04/1209839457086.html 'Home and Away' is far and away viewer favourite] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508205930/http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/kate-wins-gold/2008/05/04/1209839457086.html? |date=8 May 2008 }}, The Age, 5 May 2008.
  • 7 May – SBS TV reveals its new logo.
  • 26 May – Game show Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune, a revival of the Wheel of Fortune format, premieres on the Nine Network.
  • 2 June – The Seven Network apologises after airing an episode of the hospital drama All Saints in which it is suggested that a child born of an incestuous relationship is likely to result in the child having Down's syndrome.Ricketson, Matthew: [http://www.theage.com.au/national/seven-apologises-for-incest-episode-20080602-2kw0.html Seven apologises for incest episode] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605002222/http://www.theage.com.au/national/seven-apologises-for-incest-episode-20080602-2kw0.html |date=5 June 2008 }}, The Age, 3 June 2008.
  • 27 June – Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune is cancelled on the Nine Network after a month.
  • 7 July – Seven Network starts broadcasting its watermark on all news and current affairs programs.
  • 21 July – The final episode of Big Brother Australia, which was axed by Network Ten the week prior, goes to air. The winner of the final series is 52-year-old grandmother Terri Munro.Molloy, Shannon: [http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/entertainment/ibig-brotheri-reaches-ugly-end/2008/07/22/1216492390750.html Big Brother reaches 'ugly' end] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725132218/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/entertainment/ibig-brotheri-reaches-ugly-end/2008/07/22/1216492390750.html |date=25 July 2008 }}, Brisbane Times, 21 July 2008.
  • 25 July – The Nine Network's Nightline news program is broadcast for the last time after 16 years on air.
  • 26 July – Peter Cundall's last appearance on ABC1's Gardening Australia before retiring from Australian Landscapes.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/blooming-marvellous/2008/07/23/1216492518262.html Blooming marvellous] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714075617/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/blooming-marvellous-20080724-ge7908.html |date=14 July 2024 }}, The Age, 24 July 2008.
  • 28 July – TV journalist, This Is Your Life host and also a former host of A Current Affair, Mike Munro announces he is leaving the Nine Network after 22 years, due to budget cuts.
  • 3 August – The Nine Network's Sunday program is broadcast for the last time after 27 years on air.
  • 28 August – Australia's Naughtiest Home Videos, an adult-oriented spin-off of Australia's Funniest Home Videos is revived on the Nine Network. The program made headlines in 1992 when then-CEO Kerry Packer ordered it to be taken off-air in the middle of one episode.

Sport

Deaths

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{Years in Australia}}

{{Oceania topic|2008 in|countries_only=yes}}

{{Australian Incumbents}}

Australian incumbents

Category:Years of the 21st century in Australia