August 2005 in Australia and New Zealand

This page deals with current events that take place in or are of interest to Australia, New Zealand, and/or the territories of those countries (such as Norfolk Island and Ross Dependency), and/or current events that involve Australians and/or New Zealanders. __NOTOC__

August 29, 2005 (Wednesday)

*New South Wales Opposition Leader, John Brogden, resigns the leadership of the NSW Liberal Party after directing a racist slur at Helena Carr, wife of former Premier Bob Carr, and acting inappropriately towards two female journalists. Brogden will remain Member for Pittwater until at least the next state election. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1448203.htm (ABC News)]

August 26, 2005 (Friday)

* The High Court of Fiji overturns that country's sodomy laws after hearing the case of one Australian and a native Fijian who were previously sentenced to two years in jail under the legislation [http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/08/082605fiji.htm (365gay.com)] [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1447219.htm (ABC)]

August 24, 2005 (Wednesday)

*The Affinity Intercultural Foundation, an Australian Islamic youth organisation, announces it will hold a summit on 11 September 2005 to discuss religious extremism. The organisation claims Prime Minister John Howard's recent summit on extremism excluded 80% of the Muslim community. ( [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1444840.htm ABC News Online] ).
*A teacher from Adelaide, Australia, is arrested for possession of heroin and methamphetamine in Indonesian city of Medan. He faces the possibility of 10 years imprisonment if found guilty of possession, and capital punishment if found guilty of the manufacture or sale of amphetamines. ( [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,16367105-2,00.html News.com.au] ).

August 23, 2005 (Tuesday)

*The Maori Party launches its campaign for the New Zealand general election with co-leader Dr Pita Sharples suggesting that the party would not form a coalition with a major party, but would offer support to a government on a case by case basis. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?ObjectID=10342030 (NZ Herald)]
*Former ACT New Zealand MP Donna Awatere Huata is found guilty of fraud after using money from a state-funded reading program for personal expenses. She was expelled from Parliament in November 2004 after a lengthy battle. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10342105 (NZ Herald)]
*The Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, part of the Smithsonian Institution, has awarded Australian prime minister John Howard the Award for Public Service. Australian businessman Frank Lowy won the Award for Corporate Citizenship. ( [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1443666.htm ABC News Online] ).
*Australian prime minister John Howard will meet with Australian Muslim leaders today at a summit aimed to address the issue of religious extremism. The summit has drawn criticism from some Muslims for not engaging the full spectrum of Islamic views. ( [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1443682.htm ABC News Online] ).

August 22, 2005 (Monday)

*The two major parties in the New Zealand election both promise tax cuts if they are elected. Labour offers $1.3 billion worth of tax cuts targeted at families, while National offers $3.9 billion across all tax brackets, and a reduction in company tax to 30%. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=335&ObjectID=10341376 (NZ Herald - Labour policy)] [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10341942 (NZ Herald - National policy)]
*Pope Benedict XVI has announced that Sydney, Australia will host the next Roman Catholic World Youth Day, to be held in 2008. ( [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1442673.htm ABC News Online] ).
*In Queensland, Australia, the Liberal Party have claimed victory in two state by-elections for the seats of Redcliffe and Chatsworth. ( [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,16341843-1248,00.html News.com.au] ).

August 21, 2005 (Sunday)

*The New Zealand Labour Party appeals to voters to reject the politics of division and fear in its campaign launch for the general election. Helen Clark has made seven "pledge-card" promises as the basis of its campaign. [http://www.tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/605722 (TVNZ)]
*Don Brash launches the New Zealand National Party election campaign saying that lower taxes and better incentives are the key to reigniting a spirit of enterprise and making New Zealand again a land of opportunity. [http://www.tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/605759 (TVNZ)]

August 20, 2005 (Saturday)

*United Future New Zealand launches its campaign with attacks on the New Zealand First and Green parties. United Future will not continue its support for Labour if it is in a coalition with the Greens. [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411368/605642 (TVNZ)]
*In Queensland, Australia, two state by-elections are being held today, following the retirements last month of parliamentary speaker Ray Hollis and state treasurer Terry Mackenroth. ( [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1442245.htm ABC News Online] )

August 19, 2005 (Friday)

*Two police officers and a civilian driver are convicted on driving charges after a high-speed convoy in July 2004 carried the New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark to Christchurch airport. Clark claimed to be unaware of the speed involved, but most New Zealanders are skeptical. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10341544 (NZ Herald - convictions)] [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=179&ObjectID=10340705 (NZ Herald - opinion poll)]
*In Australia, Muslim leaders have criticised the invitation list to prime minister John Howard's summit on eliminating religious extremism, claiming the chosen representatives are out of touch with Muslim community. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1441805.htm (ABC News Online)]

August 14, 2005 (Sunday)

*The New Zealand Progressive Party launches its election campaign calling for a three-way coalition with Labour and the Greens. The party expresses pride in its achievements in the last three years, including the formation of Kiwibank and the introduction of four weeks annual leave. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10340839 (NZ Herald)]
*The New Zealand Green Party launches its election campaign. Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons offers a Labour-Green coalition, and promises free annual health checks for all New Zealanders. [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/604224 (TVNZ)]

August 13 2005 (Saturday)

* Former Prime Minister David Lange of New Zealand has died. His 1984-1989 administration left a permanent mark on New Zealand. [http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=12631&cid=8&cname=News (NZ National Business Review)]

August 11, 2005 (Wednesday)

*Two minor parties succeed in forcing TV3 to include their leaders in an election debate for the New Zealand general election. United Future leader Peter Dunne gained much of his party's current standing at the previous election's equivalent debate. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10340293 (NZ Herald)]

August 4, 2005 (Thursday)

* The New Zealand Labour Party states that they plan to set deadlines for claims to Waitangi Tribunals to be lodged by 2008 and settlements made by 2020. The National Party's policy requires claims must be filed by next year and all settlements completed by 2010. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3367402a10,00.html (Stuff)] [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/161488/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4744373.stm (BBC)]

August 3, 2005 (Wednesday)

* In Australia, Morris Iemma becomes the 40th Premier of New South Wales after being elected unopposed as leader of the state Australian Labor Party.
* Australian justice minister Chris Ellison wants to create tough laws against practice of sending young girls overseas to forced marriages [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16135589%255E2702,00.html (The Australian)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4740871.stm (BBC)]
*University staff at several New Zealand universities continue to take strike action in support of their 5% wage claim. The University of Otago is the only major university to have settled with their staff. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10338968 (NZ Herald)]
*Radio New Zealand staff stopped work for two hours today in support of their claim for a 5% wage increase and an extra week's annual holiday. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3366244a11,00.html (Stuff)]

August 1, 2005 (Monday)

*A survey of the world's strongest brands by Anholt-GMI has placed Australia as the leading "nation brand". New Zealand ranked tenth. [http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/08/01/1122748572210.html (Sydney Morning Herald)] [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10338707 (NZ Herald)]
* Leaked communications between two U.S. military prosecutors reveal internal doubts about the military commission system set-up to try Guantanamo Bay detainees. In separate emails, the prosecutors allege that the commission system is rigged in favour of the prosecution and that the cases being pursued are "marginal". In Australia, the Australian Government came under renewed pressure to withdraw its support for the commissions, under which Australian citizen David Hicks would be tried. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1427396.htm ABC News]
* [http://getup.org.au/index.asp getup.org.au] , a major web campaign aiming to lobby senators through email on key policies was launched. The site was created by the initiators of a highly successful web campaign to raise funds for the U.S. Democratic Party. "Getup" claims to have support from across the political spectrum, with figures such as Bill Shorten and John Hewson listed as its advisors. [http://dsl.optusnet.com.au/news/story/abc/20050801/19/domestic/1427521.inp (OptusNet News)]

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ee also

*2005 in New Zealand
*2005 in Australia