A terrorist bomb sinks New Zealand's defending America's Cup yacht, NZL 60, in Auckland Harbour. A secret Australian security agency no-one had ever heard of before claims responsibility for the attack, arguing that it was in Australia's interests as New Zealanders will be even more unbearable if they had successfully defend the Cup. The inquiry clears radio talk-back king John Laws of any wrongdoing, although it recommends he gives back the 34 Toyota LandCruisers. The Queensland Bulls win the inaugural Pura Milk Cup, and The Courier-Mail is faced with a dilemma on how to caption the picture of the triumphant side holding the cup they've been refusing to mention for months now. After spending more than a week in hospital, former self-confessed Queensland Police bagman Jack Herbert and his wife Peggy die.
Doctors suspect food poisoning.
Media tycoon and Australia's richest man Kerry Packer declares he has given up the punt for good and will instead donate to charity the vast amounts of money he used to gamble annually. Packer, son of media tycoon Kerry Packer and a heartbeat away from being the nation's richest man, announces all Packer-related companies would now be paying their full rate of tax as well as back taxes. Rupert Murdoch announces he is relinquishing his US citizenship to become an Australian again, even though it means forfeiting holdings worth billions of dollars in a string of American public and private companies. Lachlan Murdoch, son of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and a heartbeat away from being one of America's richest men, issues a directive to all editors of New Ltd publications prohibiting favourable editorial coverage of movies, events, organisations or sports in which the worldwide conglomerate has an interest. Queensland Premier Peter Beattie refuses to comment on an issue when contacted by the media.