After the governor general, Sir John Kerr, dismissed the Labor government. Malcolm Fraser became caretaker prime minister pending a general election

Coalition under the prime minister, Malcolm Fraser, retained government

The Australia-Japan Treaty of Friendship was signed, confirming the important trade relations between the two nations. By 1970 Japan had become Australia’s main overseas customer, with some 19.4% of export trade while Britain’s share fell to 13.4%

Enactment of Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act

The first judges of the federal court were sworn in by the attorney-general. The jurisdiction of the court included the areas previously covered by the industrial court and the bankruptcy court. It also heard appeals from state and territory courts in specific federal matters. The federal court is subject only to the high court of Australia

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh spent three weeks in Australia on a tour to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Queen’s reign

Of the four proposals put to voters at this referendum, only three were carried. These related to Senate casual vacancies, giving residents of the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory the right to vote in constitutional elections, and retirement of federal judges. The rejected fourth proposal related to the introduction of simultaneous elections

At a meeting in Scotland, Commonwealth countries affirmed opposition to racial discrimination in sport and insisted that South Africa must lift apartheid to compete in the Commonwealth Games scheduled for Edmonton in Canada that year

The first commonwealth ombudsman took office. The ombudsman has responsibility to investigate complaints about administrative decisions and make recommendations for remedy

The Fraser government approved the mining and export of uranium

Sir Zelman Cowen served as governor general until 29 July 1982

Coalition under Malcolm Fraser retained government

The Special Broadcasting Service came into operation under the Broadcasting and Television Amendment Act. It was established to provide multilingual broadcasting and television services. Regular transmissions began on 24 October 1980

Foreign minister Andrew Peacock’s recognition of Indonesian sovereignty over East Timor made Australia the sole country to accept Indonesia’s military takeover in 1976

The proclamation of the Northern Territory Land Rights Act in 1976 enabled traditional owners to claim unalienated land. The act provided for a commission to hear claims and with the power to grant a limited title. This was the first Australian law enabling claims to traditional ownership to be judged

The Northern Territory achieved limited self-government, with a fully elected Legislative Assembly. This followed 67 years of federal administration, after 50 years of government by South Australia

An area of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory proclaimed the Kakadu national park. In October the first stage of the Great Barrier Reef marine park proclaimed

An Australian Refugee Advisory Council was established. Its role was to advise the minister for immigration and ethnic affairs on the settlement of refugees. Large numbers of Indo-Chinese refugees had become a challenge for receiving countries like Australia

The Australian federal police force was formed. The AFP combined the commonwealth police, the Australian Capital Territory police and the Federal Narcotics Bureau

The minister for home affairs announced the establishment of a national institute of sport. It began as a public company with 95% funding from the government. In January 1987 the institute became a statutory authority under the Department of Sport, Recreation and Tourism

The commonwealth returned control of coastal waters to the states. The federal government had taken control of these waters in 1973

Enactment of a Whale Protection Act, following strong lobbying for the end of whaling in Australian waters

Coalition under Malcolm Fraser retained government

Human Rights Commission Act enacted, providing for a body to promote and protect human rights in line with all United Nations instruments ratified by Australia. Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and later the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 are also covered by the commission, renamed the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in 1986

The final report of a committee set up to review government function recommended the abolition of a number of agencies and reduction of others

Enactment of Australia’s first Freedom of Information Act

Australia lifted a ban on imports from Argentina after Britain defeated Argentina in the three month war in the Falklands Islands

Sir Ninian Stephen served as the governor general until 15 February 1989

Malcolm Fraser announced a double dissolution of parliament. The same day Bob Hawke was elected leader of the Labor party after Bill Hayden resigned

Coalition under Malcolm Fraser lost government