Editing 2000 in Australia

{{short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title alone is adequate; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2012}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2016}}
The following lists events that happened during '''2000 in Australia'''.

{{Infobox Australian year
| monarch = [[Elizabeth II]]
| governor-general = [[William Deane|Sir William Deane]]
| pm = [[John Howard]]
| population = 19,153,000
| australian = 
| elections = 
}}
{{Year in Australia|2000}}

==Incumbents==
[[File:William Deane official portrait.jpg|thumb|upright|140px|[[William Deane|Sir William Deane]]]]
[[File:Howard John BANNER.jpg|thumb|upright|140px|[[John Howard]]]]
*[[Monarchy of Australia|Monarch]] – [[Elizabeth II]]
*[[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]] – [[William Deane|Sir William Deane]]
*[[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] – [[John Howard]]
**[[Deputy Prime Minister of Australia|Deputy Prime Minister]] – [[John Anderson (Australian politician)|John Anderson]]
**[[List of Australian Leaders of the Opposition|Opposition Leader]] – [[Kim Beazley]]
*[[Chief Justice of Australia|Chief Justice]] – [[Murray Gleeson]]

===State and territory leaders===
*[[Premier of New South Wales]] – [[Bob Carr]]
**[[Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)|Opposition Leader]] – [[Kerry Chikarovski]]
*[[Premier of Queensland]] – [[Peter Beattie]]
**[[Leader of the Opposition (Queensland)|Opposition Leader]] – [[Rob Borbidge]]
*[[Premier of South Australia]] – [[John Olsen]]
**[[Leader of the Opposition (South Australia)|Opposition Leader]] – [[Mike Rann]]
*[[Premier of Tasmania]] – [[Jim Bacon (politician)|Jim Bacon]]
**[[Leader of the Opposition (Tasmania)|Opposition Leader]] – [[Sue Napier]]
*[[Premier of Victoria]] – [[Steve Bracks]]
**[[Leader of the Opposition (Victoria)|Opposition Leader]] – [[Denis Napthine]]
*[[Premier of Western Australia]] – [[Richard Court]]
**[[Leader of the Opposition (Western Australia)|Opposition Leader]] – [[Geoff Gallop]]
*[[Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory]] – [[Kate Carnell]] (until 18 October), then [[Gary Humphries]]
**[[Leader of the Opposition (Australian Capital Territory)|Opposition Leader]] – [[Jon Stanhope]]
*[[Chief Minister of the Northern Territory]] – [[Denis Burke (Australian politician)|Denis Burke]]
**[[Leader of the Opposition (Northern Territory)|Opposition Leader]] – [[Clare Martin]]
*[[List of heads of government of Norfolk Island|Chief Minister of Norfolk Island]] – George Smith (until 28 February), then Ronald Nobbs

===Governors and administrators===
*[[Governor of New South Wales]] – [[Gordon Samuels]]
*[[Governor of Queensland]] – [[Peter Arnison]]
*[[Governor of South Australia]] – [[Eric Neal|Sir Eric Neal]]
*[[Governor of Tasmania]] – [[Guy Green (judge)|Sir Guy Green]]
*[[Governor of Victoria]] – [[James Gobbo|Sir James Gobbo]] (until 31 December)
*[[Governor of Western Australia]] – [[Michael Jeffery (Australian Army officer)|Michael Jeffery]] (until 18 August), then [[John Sanderson]]
*[[Australian Indian Ocean Territories|Administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories]] – [[Bill Taylor (naval officer)|Bill Taylor]]
*[[List of administrative heads of Norfolk Island|Administrator of Norfolk Island]] – [[Tony Messner]]
*[[Administrator of the Northern Territory]] – [[Neil Conn]] (until 28 November), then [[John Anictomatis]]

2000 is to date the last time in which no Federal, State or Territory elections were held and the first time that no general election was held for any house of Parliament since 1942.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://australianpolitics.com/elections/dates/federal-state-election-dates-since-1901 |title=Federal and State Election Dates Since 1901 |publisher=AustralianPolitics.com |date=2022-03-19 |accessdate=2022-08-21}}</ref>

==Events==

===January===
*1 January
**Serbian President [[Slobodan Milosevic]] releases Care Australia worker Branko Jeken from imprisonment in Serbia.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kremmer|first1=Christopher|last2=Marshallsea|first2=Trevor|date=2 January 2000|title=Care worker set free|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-care-worker-set-free/129517827|work=The Age|page=16|location= |access-date=6 August 2023}}</ref>
**The National Archives releases 1969 Cabinet documents.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nicholson|first1=Brendan|last2=Daley|first2=Paul|last3=Macdonald|first3=Janine|date=1 January 2000|title=1969 Cabinet papers|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-1969-cabinet-papers/129517977|work=The Age|page=13|location=|access-date=6 August 2023|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806052831/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-1969-cabinet-papers/129517977/|url-status=live}}</ref>
**Pakistani cricketer [[Shoaib Akhtar]] returns home to Pakistan after the ICC rules that his bowling action during a recent match was illegal.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ray|first1=Mark|last2=Wilkins|first2=Phil|date=1 January 2000|title=ICC bans Akhtar|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-icc-bans-akhtar/129518097|work=The Age|page=32|location=|access-date=6 August 2023|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806052207/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-icc-bans-akhtar/129518097/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*2 January &ndash; A massive oil spill occurs off the coast of Phillip Island, endangering the region's penguin population.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ketchell|first=Misha|date=3 January 2000|title=Penguins die as oil spills along coast|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-penguins-die-as-oil-spills-along/54585195|work=The Age|page=3|location=|access-date=6 August 2023|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806085440/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-penguins-die-as-oil-spills-along/54585195/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*3 January &ndash; When Federal Justice Minister, Senator Amanda Vanstone is asked whether alleged Nazi war criminal Konrad Kalejs would be welcome when he arrived in Australia in the coming days, she replies, "Would you expect a situation where any Australian citizen would not be?", an answer which caused much controversy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/01/nazi-j17.html|title=Australia a "safe haven" for Nazi war criminals|first=Mike|last=Head|author-link=Mike Head|date=17 January 2000|work=[[World Socialist Web Site]]|access-date=12 January 2015|archive-date=26 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226001123/http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/01/nazi-j17.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=MacDonald|first1=Janine|last2=Mann|first2=Simon|date=4 January 2000|title=Nazi row: Canberra refuses to step in|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-nazi-row-canberra-refuses-to-st/129518249|work=The Age|page=1|location=|access-date=6 August 2023|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806052209/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-nazi-row-canberra-refuses-to-st/129518249/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*7 January &ndash; Alleged Nazi war criminal Konrad Kalejs returns to Australia, arriving at Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne, and met by a barrage of protesters.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mann|first1=Simon|last2=MacDonald|first2=Janine|date=8 January 2000|title=Konrad Kalejs flies in to a storm of protests|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-konrad-kalejs-flies-in-to-a-stor/129518369|work=The Age|page=1|location= |access-date=6 August 2023}}</ref>
*8 January &ndash; Queensland Labor Member for Woodridge, Bill D'Arcy resigns from Queensland Parliament due to the controversy caused by the Net Bet scandal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Showdown - Double election puts Beattie to test|newspaper=The Sunday Mail|date=9 January 2000|ref=p.1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--not stated-->|date=10 January 2000|title=ALP loses majority as sick MP quits|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-alp-loses-majo/129518510|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=8|agency=Australian Associated Press|location=|access-date=6 August 2023|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806052830/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-alp-loses-majo/129518510/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*10 January &ndash; [[Civil Aviation Safety Authority|CASA]] issues an Airworthiness Directive which grounds all aircraft after being advised the day before that more contaminants had been found in fuel produced at Mobil's Altona refinery in Melbourne.<ref>{{cite web|title=Avgas Fuel Contamination|url=http://avstop.com/news/avgas.html|access-date=12 January 2014|archive-date=17 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017105854/http://avstop.com/news/avgas.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Naidoo|first=Manika|date=11 January 2000|title=Planes hit by new fuel fear|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-planes-hit-by-new-fuel-fear/129518648|work=The Age|page=1|location=|access-date=6 August 2023|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806053712/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-planes-hit-by-new-fuel-fear/129518648/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*11 January
**Australia's biggest ecstasy haul is discovered in Brisbane and seven are arrested.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bearup|first=Greg|date=12 January 2000|title=Right on target with $36m drug bust|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-right-on-targe/129518722|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|location=|access-date=6 August 2023|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806052834/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-right-on-targe/129518722/|url-status=live}}</ref>
**Another 83 asylum seekers arrive in Darwin.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}
**Australian troops return home from [[East Timor]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Dodd|first=Mark|date=10 January 2000|title=Troops head home on leave from East Timor|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-troops-head-ho/129518844|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=5|location=|access-date=6 August 2023|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806052201/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-troops-head-ho/129518844/|url-status=live}}</ref>
**A commuter train derails in Hornsby, Sydney.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/la/latabdoc.nsf/0/c20843906ce4dd84ca256a4b0083ba85/$FILE/A9RB6AA.tmp.pdf|title=Special Commission of Inquiry into the Glenbrook Rail Accident|date=April 2001|first=Peter Aloysius|last=McInerney|publisher=[[Parliament of New South Wales]]|access-date=12 January 2015|archive-date=12 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112101130/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/la/latabdoc.nsf/0/c20843906ce4dd84ca256a4b0083ba85/$FILE/A9RB6AA.tmp.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Malcolm|date=20 January 2000|title=State told to act urgently as more trains leave the rails|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-state-told-to/129518966|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=6|location=|access-date=6 August 2023|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806052832/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-state-told-to/129518966/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*12 January &ndash; [[Leonard Fraser]] is committed to stand trial over the murder of Rockhampton schoolgirl Keyra Steinhardt.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}
*21 January &ndash; Former Queensland Labor MP, [[Bill D'Arcy]], is named as the political figure facing child-sex charges.  He is committed to the District Court on 49 charges relating to his career as a school teacher.<ref>{{cite news|title=D'Arcy on sex charges|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=22 January 2000|ref=p.1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Klotz|first=Suzanne|date=22 January 2000|title=Former Labor MP to face trial on sex charges|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-former-labor-mp-to-face-trial-on/129519164|work=The Age|page=14|location=|access-date=6 August 2023|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806052832/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-former-labor-mp-to-face-trial-on/129519164/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===February===
*5 February 
**The [[Woodridge state by-election, 2000|Woodridge state by-election]] and [[Bundamba state by-election, 2000|Bundamba state by-election]] are held in Queensland.  Labor MP [[Mike Kaiser]] wins the seat of [[Electoral district of Woodridge|Woodridge]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Labor Safe &ndash; ALP survives voter anger|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=6 February 2000|ref=p.1}}</ref>
**Cyclist Peter Cribb is attacked by a gang of up to ten thugs on the Brisbane Riverside Bikeway and suffers severe brain damage as a result, prompting a widespread ongoing police crackdown on gang violence.<ref>{{cite news|title=Plea to find attackers as cyclist fights for life|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=10 February 2000|ref=p.3}}</ref>
*9 February &ndash; A 15&ndash;year&ndash;old [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal]] boy, who was imprisoned for 28 days for stealing stationery, commits suicide in a [[Northern Territory]] [[prison]], sparking controversy about the [[mandatory sentencing]] laws of the Territory and neighbouring Western Australia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mandatory sentencing death|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s98868.htm|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-date=3 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303191623/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s98868.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
*16 February &ndash; 21&ndash;year&ndash;old Jamie Wurramara, who stole $23 worth of biscuits on Christmas Day 1999, is sentenced to a year in jail under the Northern Territory's mandatory sentencing laws, prompting a wave of protests around the nation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Man jailed for stealing biscuits worth $23|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=17 February 2000|ref=p.9}}</ref>
*25 February &ndash; The Federal Opposition calls on Aged Care Minister [[Bronwyn Bishop]] to resign after revelations she waited four weeks to act on reports that elderly residents of the Riverside Nursing Home were given kerosene baths in an effort to rid them of scabies, a skin rash.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bishop under fire over elderly|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=26 February 2000|ref=p.1}}</ref>
*29 February &ndash; [[Katherine Knight]] murders her partner John Price by stabbing him 37 times in [[Aberdeen, New South Wales]]. She proceeded to decapitate, skin and cook the victim in a crime that shocked the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/story/3263532/filmmaker-looks-at-the-grisly-hunter-murder-of-john-price-photos/|title=Filmmaker looks at the grisly Hunter murder of John Price - PHOTOS|first=JESSICA|last=BROWN|date=6 August 2015}}</ref>

===March===
*16 March &ndash; A nationwide recall of Herron headache tablets is ordered after a Brisbane doctor and his 18&ndash;year&ndash;old son are hospitalised with strychnine poisoning.
*18 March &ndash; Herron offers a $250,000 reward to try to find out who tampered with its paracetamol products. A 32&ndash;year&ndash;old Brisbane man is subsequently arrested.
*20 March &ndash; Queensland Premier [[Peter Beattie]] announces that State Cabinet has approved a $30 million deal to exclude trawling from 35 percent of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and reduce the fish catch from the reef by 15 percent.<ref>{{cite news|title=State in $30m trawling offer|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=21 March 2000|ref=p.7}}</ref>
*25 March &ndash; Brisbane City Council election - [[Jim Soorley]] is elected for a fourth term as Lord Mayor of Brisbane, defeating Liberal candidate Gail Austen.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lord Jim's Juggernaut|newspaper=The Sunday Mail|date=26 March 2000|ref=p.1}}</ref>

===April===
*6 April &ndash; Train carriages derail at Redfern, Sydney.  No passengers are involved.
*10 April &ndash; Prime Minister [[John Howard]] reaches agreement with the Northern Territory Chief Minister [[Denis Burke (Australian politician)|Denis Burke]] on mandatory sentencing. In exchange for Commonwealth funding, the Territory's laws will be changed to give diversionary programmes as a substitute for jail time to children accused of minor crimes. Police will have discretion to give children who've committed more serious crimes access to these programmes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Deal struck on mandatory sentencing|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s117524.htm|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-date=3 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303191625/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s117524.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
*27 April &ndash; Four elderly people, between the ages of 65 and 88, are hospitalised after catching the potentially fatal [[Legionnaire's disease]] at the new [[Melbourne Aquarium]] in what became Victoria's worst outbreak of the disease with possible exposure to up to 10,000 people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Germ Scare|publisher=Herald Sun|date=28 April 2000|ref=p.1}}</ref>

===May===
*21 May &ndash; The [[Airport railway line, Sydney|Airport Rail Link]] opens in [[Sydney]].
*28 May &ndash; 250,000 people walk across the [[Sydney Harbour Bridge]] in support of [[wiktionary:reconciliation|reconciliation]] with Australia's Aboriginal people.<ref>{{cite web|title=Howard stands firm after reconciliation walk|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s132204.htm|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303191620/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s132204.htm|archive-date=3 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===June===
*23 June &ndash; The [[Childers Palace Backpackers Hostel fire]] hostel fire kills 15 people.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Roberts|first1=Greg|last2=Fyfe|first2=Melissa|last3=Morris|first3=Linda|last4=Kennedy|first4=Les|date=24 June 2000|title=Backpacker tragedy|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-backpacker-ars/170417582/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|pages=1,6-7,9-10|access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref> [[Robert Paul Long]] is later sentenced to life imprisonment for lighting the fire which destroyed the [[Palace Hotel, Childers|Palace Hotel]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Hosier|first=Phoebe|date=2 February 2021|title=Childers backpacker hostel killer Robert Long's release bid quashed by Parole Board Queensland|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-02/childers-backpacker-hostel-killer-has-parole-bid-rejected/13114808|work=ABC News|access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref>

===July===
*1 July &ndash; [[Goods and Services Tax (Australia)|Goods and Services Tax]] introduced.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carney|first1=Shaun|last2=Gordon|first2=Michael|last3=Hudson|first3=Phillip|date=1 July 2000|title=Welcome to GST day one...|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-welcome-to-gst-day-one/129519687|work=The Age|page=1|location=|access-date=6 August 2023|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806094839/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-welcome-to-gst-day-one/129519687/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*24 July &ndash; Five people are killed in the [[2000 Marlborough helicopter crash]] when a rescue helicopter crashes while attempting to land in thick fog at [[Marlborough, Queensland]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Greg|date=25 July 2000|title=Dash to save little boy ends in tragedy|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-dash-to-save-little-boy-ends-in/115828213|work=The Age|page=7|location=|access-date=6 August 2023|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806054009/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-dash-to-save-little-boy-ends-in/115828213/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===August===
*10 August &ndash; Beginning of the [[Sydney gang rapes]] by a group from up to fourteen men.
*15 August &ndash; Queensland Attorney&ndash;General [[Matt Foley (Australian politician)|Matt Foley]] announces that the Government has ordered an independent investigation into allegations of widespread electoral rorting within the Queensland Labor Party.<ref>{{cite news|title=State seeks inquiry on electoral rort claims|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=16 August 2000|ref=p.4}}</ref>
*17 August &ndash; It is announced that the current Queensland Assistant Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson will replace Jim O'Sullivan as Police Commissioner when he retires on 31 October.<ref>{{cite news|title=New police chief cops it sweet as praise rolls in|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=18 August 2000|ref=p.3}}</ref>

===September===
*11&ndash;13 September &ndash; The [[World Economic Forum]] is held in [[Melbourne]]. The [[S11 (protest)|S11]] movement organises protests that overshadow the meeting.
*15 September &ndash; 1 October &ndash; [[2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney Olympics]] held & are a massive success. Outgoing [[International Olympic Committee]] president [[Juan Antonio Samaranch]] regards them as the 'best [[Olympic Games]] ever'. The [[Olympic Games]] are handed back to their birthplace [[Athens]], [[Greece]] from [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]. They'll are welcome back home, soon in the next 4 years to host [[2004 Summer Olympics]]

===October===
*10 October &ndash; It is revealed that Workplace Relations Minister [[Peter Reith]] has incurred almost $50,000 on a taxpayer-funded Telecard for a service he says he hasn't used for years, but which he admits he gave to his son.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reith breaks phone perk rule|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=11 October 2000|ref=p.1}}</ref>

===November===
*1 November &ndash; Former Queensland Labor MP [[Bill D'Arcy]] is found guilty of 18 child sex charges committed while he was a school teacher.<ref>{{cite news|title=D'Arcy raped schoolgirls|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=2 November 2000|ref=p.1}}</ref>
*November &ndash; [[New South Wales]] suffers its worst floods in 40 years, with 240&nbsp;cm of [[rain]] falling in one week.
*22 November &ndash; [[Jim Elder (politician)|Jim Elder]] resigns as Queensland Deputy Premier, citing allegations of electoral rorting within the Labor Party currently under investigation by the Shepherdson Inquiry.<ref>{{cite web|title=Queensland's Deputy Premier resigns amid CJC inquiry|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s215494.htm|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-date=3 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303191618/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s215494.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Arts and literature==
{{Main|2000 in Australian literature}}
* [[ARIA Music Awards of 2000]]
* [[Thea Astley]]'s novel ''[[Drylands (novel)|Drylands]]'' and [[Kim Scott]]'s novel ''[[Benang]]'' are co-winners of the [[Miles Franklin Award]]

==Film==
* 27 June &ndash; ''[[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones]]'' begins principal photography at [[Fox Studios Australia]] in Sydney.
* 2 October &ndash; ''[[Queen of the Damned (film)|Queen of the Damned]]'', based on the novel by [[Anne Rice]], begins principal photography in a converted biscuit factory in [[St Albans, Victoria|St Albans]], [[Melbourne, Victoria|Melbourne]].
* [[The Dish]]
* [[Looking for Alibrandi (film)|Looking for Alibrandi]]
* [[The Wog Boy]]

==Television==
{{seealso|2000 in Australian television}}
*1 January &ndash; The [[Seven Network]] introduces a new ribbon-style logo to celebrate the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the first one in the network's history not to have the number 7 inside a circle.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bayley|first=Andrew|date=|title=2000-2009|url=https://televisionau.com/timeline/2000-2009|work=Television.AU: The history of Australian television|access-date=16 April 2025|quote=January 1:  Seven unveils its new “ribbon” style logo}}</ref>
*6 February &ndash; ''[[Popstars]]'' debuts on the Seven Network, becoming the first [[Australian television|Australian]] reality talent show attracting massive ratings and leading to the formation of ''[[Bardot (Australian band)|Bardot]]'', the first Australian act to debut at no.1 on the [[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]] charts.<ref>{{cite news|last=Buchanan|first=Matt|date=31 January 2000|title=Everything but the girls|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-everything-but/170356224/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=60|access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Knox|first=Malcolm|date=4 March 2000|title=Viewers love the show where dreams generally go pop|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-viewers-love-t/170356311/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=6|access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Knox|first=Malcolm|date=22 April 2000|title=It's a rare trifecta for the Flab(less) Five|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-its-a-rare-tr/170356152/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=7|access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref>
*23 March – David Fidler, the anchor of Darwin's flagship ''[[NTD_(Australian_TV_station)#Nine_News_Darwin|National Eight News]]'' bulletin resigns after admitting he had fabricated claims that he was a member of the [[Australian Swim Team]] at the [[1968 Mexico Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Nason|first=David|date=23 March 2000|title=Exposed: the television newsreader who lived an Olympic lie|work=The Australian}}</ref><ref name=mediawatch>{{cite news|last=Barry|first=Paul|date=27 March 2000|title=Program: 23/3/00|url=https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/27300/9976628|work=Media Watch|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref> He had been stood down by the station pending an internal inquiry but admitting the claims were false, Fidler resigns and apologises for misleading the public.<ref name=mediawatch/><ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Camden|date=26 December 2023|title=Vale David Fidler: Prominent newsreader dies in United States|url=https://www.ntnews.com.au/business/nt-business/vale-david-fidler-prominent-newsreader-dies-in-united-states/news-story/36f2ef8533232a8137b69f74bd86ffa1|work=NT News|access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref> Olympic swimmer [[Dawn Fraser]] describes Fidler's false claims "as bad as sports people taking drugs."<ref name=whopper>{{cite news|last=Zinn|first=Christopher|date=29 March 2000|title=Whopper sinks 'Olympic' swimmer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/mar/29/3|work=The Guardian|access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref> Fidler claims the pretense commenced when a public figure had erroneously introduced him as a former Olympian at a fundraising dinner in 1985.<ref name=whopper/>
*30 April – Hosted by [[Andrew Denton]], the [[Logie Awards of 2000|42nd annual Logie Awards]] are held in Melbourne where [[Lisa McCune]] wins the [[Gold Logie]] and [[Bruce Gyngell]] is inducted into the [[Logie Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Idato|first=Michael|date=1 May 2000|title=Absence fails to make TV fans' hearts wander|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-absence-fails/170565701/|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=3|access-date=18 April 2025}}</ref>
*September &ndash; The [[2000 Sydney Olympics]] attracts record ratings for the Seven Network, particularly the [[2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|opening]] and [[2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|closing]] ceremonies along with the network's continuous coverage.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilmoth|first1=Peter|last2=Schulze|first2=Jane|date=4 October 2000|title=Closing ceremony sets ratings record|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-closing-ceremony-sets-ratings-re/170393933/|work=The Age|page=6|access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref>

==Sport==
* 1 January &ndash; Carlton defeats Collingwood in a Millennium special pre&ndash;season match
*11 January &ndash; NRL announces strict penalties for clubs found guilty of breaching salary caps
*14 January &ndash; Tennis &ndash; Mark Philippousis defeats Pete Sampras to win the Colonial Classic Final<ref>{{cite news|title=Ten News|publisher=TVQ 10 (Channel 10 Brisbane)|date=14 January 2000}}</ref>
**Grant Hackett wins 800 metres at the Queensland swimming titles.
*24 February &ndash; First day of the Australian Track & Field Championships for the 1999–2000 season, which are held at the [[Stadium Australia]] in Sydney. The 10,000 metres was conducted at the Melbourne Grand Prix on 2 March 2000.
*9 March &ndash; Colonial Stadium (now [[Telstra Dome]]) plays host to its first game of [[Australian rules football]]. [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]] defeats [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]] (24.12.156) to (8.14.62)
*27 April &ndash; In the [[2000 Anzac Test]] Australia defeat New Zealand 52 - 0 at Sydney's Stadium Australia before a crowd of 26,023
*3 May &ndash; [[Anthony Mundine]], after going AWOL from the [[St George Illawarra Dragons]] for 10 days, announces his retirement from [[rugby league]] and switches to [[boxing]].
*5 June, [[Suncorp Stadium]] &ndash; The [[2000 State of Origin series]] is wrapped up by [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] in game two of the series against [[Queensland Maroons|Queensland]].
*11 June &ndash; [[Wollongong Wolves]] come from 3&ndash;0 behind at half-time to defeat [[Perth Glory]] and win the [[National Soccer League|NSL]] Grand Final on penalties after the game finished 3&ndash;3. The attendance at [[Subiaco Oval]] was 43,242, the record attendance in Australian domestic football history until broken in 2006.
*15 July &ndash; [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]] becomes the first [[Australian Football League|VFL/AFL]] team to begin a season with nineteen consecutive wins, beating Collingwood's record from [[1929 VFL season|1929]].
*2 August &ndash; Essendon becomes the first team to finish with a 21&ndash;1 record; a feat subsequently equalled by [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] in [[2008 AFL season|2008]].
*11 August &ndash; The [[Melbourne Phoenix]] defeat the [[Adelaide Thunderbirds]] 52&ndash;51 in the [[Commonwealth Bank Trophy]] [[netball]] grand final.
*27 August &ndash; Minor premiers the [[Brisbane Broncos]] defeat the [[Sydney Roosters]] 14&ndash;6 at [[Stadium]] Australia (now [[Telstra Stadium]]) to win the 93rd [[New South Wales Rugby League|NSWRL]]/[[Australian Rugby League|ARL]]/[[National Rugby League|NRL]] premiership. It is the fifth premiership for the Broncos and the last grand final played during the day. The [[North Queensland Cowboys]] finish in last position, claiming the wooden spoon.
*2 September &ndash; [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]] (19.21.135) defeats [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] (11.9.75) to win the 104th [[Australian Football League|VFL/AFL]] premiership. It is the last occasion until 2010 that the grand final has been an all-Melbourne affair and the last occasion until 2008 that the grand final has been an all-Victorian affair.
*7 November &ndash; Horse [[Brew (horse)|Brew]] wins the [[Melbourne Cup]].
*19 November &ndash; [[Garth Tander]] and [[Jason Bargwanna]] win the [[2000 FAI 1000|FAI Bathurst 1000]] for [[Garry Rogers Motorsport]], a first for the team and both drivers.
*[[2000 Summer Olympics]] in Sydney, Australia result in a record 58 medals for Australia.
*[[2000 Anzac Test]]

==Births==
* 12 January &ndash; [[Chelsie Dawber]], footballer
* 16 January &ndash; [[Abigail Paduch]], judoka<ref>{{cite web |title=Abigail Paduch Results {{!}} Commonwealth Games Australia |url=https://commonwealthgames.com.au/athletes/abigail-paduch/ |website=commonwealthgames.com.au |access-date=4 January 2023 |language=en-AU |date=11 May 2022 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104000910/https://commonwealthgames.com.au/athletes/abigail-paduch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 31 January &ndash; [[Princess Ibini-Isei]], football forward
* 6 February &ndash; [[Erin Cleaver]], track and field para athlete
* 25 February &ndash; [[David Fifita (rugby league, born 2000)|David Fifita]], rugby league player
* 30 March &ndash; [[Riley Day]], sprinter
* 28 April &ndash; [[Ellie Carpenter]], footballer
* 4 May &ndash; [[Nicholas Hamilton]], actor<ref>{{cite tweet|user=Nic_Hamilton|number=1257354095872159744|date=May 4, 2020|title=yes it is my birthday today and I’m expecting cake from and each and every one of you thx}}</ref>
* 15 May &ndash; [[Jacob Bragg]], runner
* 16 May &ndash; [[MelindaJ Barbieri]], football midfielder
* 1 July &ndash; [[Emily Hodgson]], footballer
* 13 July &ndash; [[Ella Connolly]], sprinter
* 15 July &ndash; [[Jarrod Freeman]], cricketer
* 14 October &ndash; [[Oliver Davies (cricketer)|Oliver Davies]], cricketer
* 24 October &ndash; [[Curtis Mead]], baseball player
* 2 November &ndash; [[Tess Coady]], snowboarder
* 11 November &ndash; [[Aretha Brown]], Indigenous youth activist
* 15 November &ndash; [[Todd Murphy]], cricketer
* 16 November &ndash; [[Josh Green (basketball)|Josh Green]], basketball player
* 7 December &ndash; [[Bailey Smith]], footballer
* 11 December &ndash; [[Emily Whitehead]], artistic gymnast<ref>{{cite web |title=Artistic Gymnastics {{!}} Athlete Profile: Emily WHITEHEAD - Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games |url=https://results.gc2018.com/en/artistic-gymnastics/athlete-profile-n6029346-emily-whitehead.htm |website=results.gc2018.com |access-date=29 April 2020 |archive-date=30 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530081758/https://results.gc2018.com/en/artistic-gymnastics/athlete-profile-n6029346-emily-whitehead.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Deaths==
* 1 January – [[Colin Vaughan]], 68, Australian-Canadian journalist and activist (b. 1931)
* 5 March – [[Roma Mitchell|Dame Roma Mitchell]], 86, Governor of South Australia (b. 1913)
* 27 March – [[Sue Wah Chin]], 98, entrepreneur (b. 1900)
* 30 March – [[Michael Pitman]], 67, biologist
* 2 April – [[Bunney Brooke]], 80, actor
* 10 April –  [[Mary MacLean Hindmarsh]], 78, botanist<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Hindmarsh, Mary (1921–2000)|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/hindmarsh-mary-1921-2000|encyclopedia=Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages|date=2006|accessdate=20 April 2021|via=Encyclopedia.com|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420053303/https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/hindmarsh-mary-1921-2000|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 21 May – [[Dulcie Holland]], 87, composer and music educator
* 1 June – Sir [[Raymond Ferrall]], 94, businessman, author and cricketer
* 14 June – [[Greg Wilton]], 44, ALP politician, only serving member of the House of Representatives to have committed suicide
* 19 June – [[Ron Casey (Melbourne broadcaster)|Ron Casey]], 72, Australian rules footballer and television commentator
* 3 July – [[Vivian Bullwinkel]], 84, army nurse
* 14 July – [[Mark Oliphant]], 98, physicist
* 7 September – [[Bruce Gyngell]], 71, television personality
* 19 October – [[Charles Perkins (Aboriginal activist)|Charles Perkins]], 64, Aboriginal activist
* 1 December – [[Doug Waterhouse]], 84, entomologist
* 26 December – [[John McLeay Jr.|John McLeay]], 78, Liberal politician

==See also==
* [[2000 in Australian literature]]
* [[2000 in Australian television]]
* [[List of Australian films of 2000]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Years in Australia}}
{{Oceania topic|2000 in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2000 in Australia}}
[[Category:2000 in Australia| ]]
[[Category:2000 by country|Australia]]
[[Category:Years of the 20th century in Australia]]
[[Category:2000 in Oceania|Australia]]