16 April – The New South Wales Government's controversial election funding Bill is introduced into Parliament, provoking strong Opposition criticism. The Bill imposes stringent declaration conditions with political donations of more than $200, requiring a statement giving the name and address of donors.
26 April – First tethered flight of Defence Science and Technology Group's Hoveroc rocket is carried out at Port Wakefield, South Australia.[8] It was the world's first practical hovering rocket.
The Federal Government's Committee of Review into Government Functions, nicknamed "The Razor Gang", releases its final report and begins a series of cuts in spending on public services and instrumentalities.
Graham Potter, aged 23, is charged with the murder of a woman found decapitated near Kiama on 8 February. He is refused bail after denying the allegations.
Alleged crime boss, Robert Trimbole, leaves Australia.
Three engineering companies make agreements for shorter working weeks with metal trade union representatives in Sydney, giving a major boost to the ongoing campaign for a 35-hour week.
9 May – Assisted passage to Australia is now restricted to refugees.
26 May – Foreign Affairs Minister Tony Street announces that the United States has asked Australia to send peacekeepers to the Sinai Desert.
17 July – A truck drivers' strike in most states causes the Queensland Government to declare a state of emergency.
24 July – The Queensland Government declares a state of emergency over a threat to food supplies caused by the transport workers' strike.
30 July – The ALP National Conference rewords its Socialist Objective and endorses affirmative action.
31 July – The Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission decides to end wage indexation, a system which has been established in April 1975. President Sir John Moore stated that the guidelines indexing wage adjustments to inflation would no longer be applied to cases before the commission. Each case will now be decided on individual merit.
2 November – The Bank of New South Wales and the Commercial Bank of Australia Limited merge to form a new bank which commences trading under the name of Westpac twelve months later.
12 December – A referendum is held in Tasmania to vote for whether or not the Franklin Dam should be built. 47% vote for the original proposal, 8% vote for the compromise solution & 45% vote informally. It is estimated that up to one-third of all votes were for 'no dams', which was not a sanctioned option.
31 December – New South Wales abolishes death duties.
10 April – The TV WeekLogie Awards air on Ten for the first time. It is also the first time that the Logies have not been screened on the Nine Network.
25 July – Garry Bentley wins the men's national marathon title, clocking 2:16:58 in Werribee, while Rosemary Longstaff claims the inaugural women's title in 2:46:48.
29 July – The VFL board announces that South Melbourne will play 11 games in Sydney in 1982.
29 August – South Melbourne play their last game at the Lake OvalinAlbert Park against North Melbourne. North Melbourne win, 15.17 (107) to 10.14 (74).
26 September – Carlton 12.20 (92) defeat Collingwood (10.12 (72)) to win the 85th premiership. It is the last time Collingwood would feature in a grand final until 1990.
27 September – The Parramatta Eels defeat the Newtown Jets 20-11† to win the 74th NSWRL premiership. It is also the first premiership for the Parramatta Eels, who had been trying to win one since 1947. Fans celebrate by burning down the main grandstand of the Cumberland Oval, which was due to be demolished. The Balmain Tigers finish in last position, claiming the wooden spoon.
^"Queensland 1981 - background document", Queensland State Archives, 1981, On 10 February, Townsville's new international airport terminal was officially functional when it welcomed the arrival of a Qantas Boeing 747 flight direct from Honolulu. Townsville was the first regional, non-capital city in the country to operate its own international airport.
