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See also: 1979 in Australia, other events of 1980, 1981 in Australia

Incumbents

• Queen of Australia - HM Queen Elizabeth II
• Prime Minister - Malcolm Fraser
• Governor General - Sir Zelman Cowen

• Premier of New South Wales - Neville Wran
• Premier of South Australia - David Tonkin
• Premier of Queensland - Joh Bjelke-Petersen
• Premier of Tasmania - Doug Lowe
• Premier of Western Australia - Sir Charles Court
• Premier of Victoria - Rupert Hamer
• Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory - Post did not exist in 1980.
• Chief Minister of the Northern Territory - Paul Everingham

Events

• February 21 - A Beech 200 light aircraft crashes at Sydney Airport, killing 13.
• February 23 - The Liberal/National coalition government of Sir Charles Court is re-elected in Western Australia.
• March 24 - The Australian Olympic Federation announces it will send an Olympic delegation to Moscow, despite objections raised by the Prime Minister.
• April 26 - Louise and Charmian Faulkner disappear from outside their flat in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia.
• June 7 - Paul Everingham's Country Liberal Party government is re-elected in the Northern Territory.
• August 17 - Azaria Chamberlain disappears from a campsite at Ayers Rock (Uluru), reportedly taken by a dingo.
• September 26 - The Lonie Report in Victoria recommends the closure of half the suburban rail lines, all country passenger rail lines and a number of tram routes. It also recommends huge freeway expansion. The report is controversial and protests cause its recommendations to be moderated.
• October 18 - The federal election sees Malcolm Fraser's Liberal/National coalition government re-elected for a third consecutive term, albeit with an almost halved majority.
• November 29 - In Queensland, the National Party government of Joh Bjelke-Petersen is re-elected.

Unknown Dates

• Victoria decriminalises homosexual acts between consenting adults.
• Construction begins on New Parliament House, Canberra ACT.

Arts & Literature

• Jessica Anderson's novel The Impersonators wins the Miles Franklin Award

Film

The Club. Gallipoli

Television

• January 17 - Gippsland's GLV-10 becomes GLV-8. This is done so that Melbourne's ATV-0 can become ATV-10.
• January 20 - ATV-0 becomes ATV-10. This move prompts the 0-10 Network to change its name to Network Ten, although Brisbane's TVQ-0 would continue to broadcast on Channel 0 until 1988. On the same night, Ten's new drama series Arcade premieres. It is regarded as the biggest flop in Australian television history, costing over $3 million to make and being axed after 49 episodes.
• January 30 - Kingswood Country debuts on the Seven Network.
• October 15 - Mini-series "The Last Outlaw" debuts On Seven
• October 24 - SBS commences transmission in Sydney & Melbourne on VHF Channel 0 & UHF Channel 28, becoming the first station in Australia to use UHF frequencies.

Sport

• July 8, Lang Park - The first State of Origin match is won by Queensland who defeat New South Wales 20 - 10.
• July 27 - Lawrence Whitty wins the men's national marathon title, clocking 2:19:00 in Adelaide.
• September 27 - The Canterbury Bulldogs defeat the Eastern Suburbs Roosters (now Sydney Roosters) 18-4 to win the 73rd NSWRL premiership. It is the first premiership for Canterbury since 1942 & the last ever grand final played on a Saturday. In the process, Steve Gearin scores one of the most spectacular tries in history.
• September 27 - On the same day, the Richmond Tigers (23.21.159) defeat the Collingwood Magpies (9.24.78) to win the 84th VFL premiership. It is the most recent premiership win for Richmond.
• October 5 - Alan Jones becomes the second Australian driver to win the Formula One World Drivers Championship after winning the final race of the season at Watkins Glen, New York.
• November 4 - Beldale Ball wins the Melbourne Cup.
• December 13 - The Illawarra Steelers are accepted as the 13th team in the NSWRL premiership for 1982, making them the first team from outside the Sydney metropolitan area to compete in the competition since Newcastle in 1909.

Births

• January 17 — Kylie Wheeler, heptathlete
• March 27 — Toni Cronk, field hockey goalkeeper
• May 9 — Grant Hackett, swimmer
• June 18 — Craig Mottram, long and middle distance runner
• July 9 — Brooke Krueger, hammer thrower
• August 23 — Bronwyn Eagles, hammer thrower

Deaths

• January 7 – Eddie Scarf (71), boxer and wrestler (b. 1908)
• February 19 – Bon Scott (33), AC/DC Lead Singer (b. 1946)
• November 20 – John McEwen, eighteenth Prime Minister of Australia (b. 1900)