October 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__

30 October, 2005 (Sunday)

*Ian Fraser resigns as CEO of Television New Zealand after the board of directors insists he become involved in negotiations over salaries of top news presenters. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10352808 (NZ Herald)]

21 October, 2005 (Friday)

*The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service discovers anti-bodies of avian influenza and newcastle disease in pigeons imported from Canada to Melbourne, leading to a blanket ban on all live bird imports from Canada. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1487872.htm (ABC)] [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1487513.htm (ABC)]

19 October, 2005 (Wednesday)

*Helen Clark announces the New Zealand Cabinet members. Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen retains Finance and takes Tertiary Education. Jim Anderton is now the third ranked minister, responsible for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Annette King takes Police. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10351046 (NZ Herald)]
*Transparency International ranks New Zealand second equal on its list of least corrupt countries in the world. Australia ranks ninth. [http://ww1.transparency.org/cpi/2005/cpi2005_infocus.html#cpi (Transparency International)]

17 October, 2005 (Monday)

*Helen Clark announces the formation of a Labour-led Government in New Zealand. The Progressive Party is in coalition. New Zealand First and United Future support the government and are each given ministerial positions outside Cabinet. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10350712 (NZ Herald)]

15 October, 2005 (Saturday)

*Australian-born Crown Princess Mary of Denmark gives birth to an as-yet unnamed baby boy, the son of Crown Prince Frederik and future successor to the Danish throne. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1483188.htm (ABC News)]
*The New Zealand Kiwis inflict a surprise defeat on the Australian Kangaroos in the Tri Nations rugby league tournament, defeating Australia in Sydney for the first time since 1959. [http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200510/s1483153.htm (ABC News)] [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=4&ObjectID=10350509 (NZ Herald)]

14 October, 2005 (Friday)

*Divers from New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) examine the port of Picton for signs of sea squirts, an invasive species which could wreck the mussel farming industry. Sea squirts have also been found at Auckland and Lyttelton. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10350246 (NZ Herald)]

12 October, 2005 (Wednesday)

*The Bali High Court reduces the sentence of prominent Australian prisoner Schapelle Corby from twenty years to fifteen. Her lawyer indicated that an appeal may again be launched, maintaining Corby's innocence. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1480786.htm (ABC)]
*The Howard Government has rejected criticism of its expenditure on promoting the controversial industrial relations reform proposal, as it is revealed some its advertisements breach the "Electoral Act". [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1480717.htm (ABC)]
*The Federal Opposition and the Australian Democrats will today push for Australian Senate inquiry into the Howard Government's controversial industrial relations reform proposal. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1480231.htm (ABC)]
*Queensland Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce crosses the floor in the Australian Senate in voting on a piece of legislation dealing with corporate mergers, the first senator to do so in nineteen years. [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,16891323-421,00.html?from=rss|(The Australian)]

6 October, 2005 (Thursday)

*A New Zealand District Court rules that HIV-positive people need not tell sexual partners about their status so long as safe sex is practiced. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/story.cfm?storyid=%1E%FB%F8%C5%25%BB%B6G (NZ Herald)] [http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3434015a11,00.html (Stuff)]

5 October, 2005 (Wednesday)

*Television New Zealand announces it will not renew the NZ$ 800,000 contract of its newsreader, Judy Bailey, who has presented ONE News for 18 years and has been called "The Mother of the Nation". [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10348721 (NZ Herald)]

4 October, 2005 (Tuesday)

*Three existing New Zealand Cabinet Ministers, George Hawkins, Paul Swain and Marian Hobbs, announce they will not be seeking new Cabinet posts once a new government is formed. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10348588 (NZ Herald)]

2 October, 2005 (Sunday)

*Injured Australians and other foreign nationals are being evacuated to Australian medical facilities, as the Australian Government moves to assist Indonesia in its response to the 2005 Bali bombings. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1472723.htm (ABC)]
*Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer confirms the death of at least one Australian following terrorist bombings in Bali, and says there are "grave fears" for another two. At least 17 Australians are among the injured. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1472748.htm (ABC)]

1 October, 2005 (Saturday)

*A series of near simultaneous blasts are reported in Bali at popular tourist areas, killing at least 36 and injuring 103 people, including Australians and possibly New Zealanders. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/10/01/bali.blasts.ap/index.html (CNN)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4300274.stm (BBC)] [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INDONESIA_BLASTS?SITE=WRKO&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&SECTION=HOME (WRKO)]
*The official result for the New Zealand election reduces the National Party's seats by one compared to the preliminary results. Labour now has two more seats than its rival and must now confirm minor party support to form the new government. [http://electionresults.govt.nz/ (NZ election results)]
*In Adelaide, Australia, the World Solar Challenge has ended, with Dutch team Nuon finishing first, followed by Australian team Aurora 101. ( [http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,16764301%255E2682,00.html Adelaide Advertiser] ).

News collections and sources

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ee also

*2005 in New Zealand
*2005 in Australia