Australia 20 years ago: What happened in 1998?

John the bookmaker - Mark Vaugh and Shane Warne publicly confessed to receiving money from an Indian bookie whilst touring Sri Lanka and Pakistan back in 1994. 'John' was the name given to the bookmaker, who, in exchange for his money, asked the cricketers to inform him about the weather and pitch conditions on tour.

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Adelaide Crows were crowned winner - North Melbourne were defeated by the Adelaide Crows who won the 102nd AFL Premiership title.

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Kangaroos vs Kiwis - The Australian national rugby team lost to the New Zealand national rugby league on April 24, 1998. It was the first match among the leagues in four years.

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Rugby drug scandal - The Rugby League suffered a drug scandal when Newcastle players tested positive.

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Silk-Miller murders - VIC police officers Gary Michael Silk and Rodney James Miller were murdered in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin.

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Labor's election policy - On September 23, at Brisbane's Convention Centre, Kim Beazley helped launch the election policy that promised to help fund a new employment plan.

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The Australian waterfront dispute of 1998 -

When Aussie logistics conglomerate Patrick Corporation fired over 2,000 employees, the Maritime Union of Australia staged the biggest dispute of its kind that Australia had ever experienced.

And it worked! The workers got their jobs back.

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Gas leak on board - HMAS Westralia ship suffered a gas leak on board on May 5. It cost the lives of four citizens.

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Jabiluka uranium mine prevented - On May 23, 1998, the Federation Court of Australia impeded the construction of Jabiluka uranium mine.

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Uranium mining approved - Come November 20, 1998, the High Court of Australia allows the Jabiluka uranium mine to proceed with its construction and operations.

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UNESCO tries to stop uranium mine - UNESCO attempted to interrupt and terminate any further construction of the Jabiluka uranium mine. Australia's Federation Government refused such an approach.

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Fox Studios comes to Australia - American film studio Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation opened offices in Sydney in May 1998.

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The Electric Tilt Train starts to run - On November 6, Queensland Rail launched the Electric Tilt Train.

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The value of the Australian dollar - The Aussie dollar experienced a fall in value in May of 1998. It was 62 and a quarter U.S. cents to the Australian dollar!

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Governor-General - Governor-General Sir William Deane was in office between 1996 and 2001.

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Prime Minister - John Howard was into his second year as Prime Minister of Australia in 1998.

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The Prime Minister refused to meet the Spice Girls - On January 8th, John Howard refused to meet the world-famous girl group who were touring Australia at the time. How unappreciative!

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Teletubbies premiered on ABC - The British children's series was first aired in Australia on February 16, 1998.

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1998 Commonwealth Games - Australia came home with 199 medals, 80 of which were gold! Pictured is Nova Peris Kneebone kissing her precious gold medal.

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Dole scheme - Near the end of January, the Prime Minister revealed a new plan for the 'Work for the Dole Scheme' to help tackle youth unemployment.

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Prime Minister hung up on the radio -

Remember when John Howard ended his phone call with a Sydney-based radio station after being questioned about whether GST would affect the price of heroin?

If you don't recall, don't worry. It on March 17, 20 years ago.

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The Coalition Tax Reform Package -

On August 13, 1998, the Coalition Tax Reform Package is initiated. It promised to lower wholesale and income tax and included a 10% GST.

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Premier of QLD - Until June 20, Rob Borbidge was the Premier of QLD. After that it was Peter Beattie.

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Premier of SA - The Premier of SA in 1998 was John Olsen.

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Premier of VIC - Jeff Kennett was the Premier of VIC in 1998.

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Premier of TAS - Tony Rundle was the Premier of TAS until September 14, when Jim Bacon took over.

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Premier of NSW - Bob Carr was the Premier of NSW in 1998.

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Olympic Park Station opened - Bob Carr opened the Olympic Park Station on March 8, 1998. The train station ran from the sports venue and Sydney, and was built ahead of the 2000 Olympics.

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More flood victims - On July 26, Bob Carr steps up and offers to help flood victims in Narrabri, Wee Waa, and Gunnedah.

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The 1998 Sydney water crisis -

Greater Sydney's Water System was supposedly contaminated with microscopic pathogens cryptosporidium and giardia.

Tests and investigation on the issue began in July and ran through to September.

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Floods in Katherine - January 1998, three people died due to massive floods in Katherine, NT. Prime Miniter John Howard visited the flooded area at the end of the month.

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Elections in ACT - The elections resulted in the Liberal Party being re-elected, with Kate Carnell as the Chief Minister. It was the last time, until 2008, that a Liberal Party formed government.

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Canberra's post office bombing -

When a citizen lost a long legal battle to the Australian Taxation Office, he placed 28 mail bombs in Canberra's post office.

One bomb exploded and killed two people.

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