Australian people and events of 2006

Continuing my end of year wrap-up ...

Top 5 Australian news events of 2006:

1. Socceroos at the World Cup - Australia's superb performance united the country and impressed the rest of the world.
2. Steve Irwin's death - an unexpected tragedy.
3. Kevin Rudd wrests Labor's federal leadership from Kim Beazley - the bump in the polls won't last, but at least the ALP now stands a chance against John Howard.
4. Media reform passes through the Australian Parliament - media ownership in Australia will never be the same again.
5. Australia regains The Ashes - the series became not just about winning back The Ashes but also humiliating the English.

Top 5 Australians of 2006:

1. Kevin Rudd - his end-of-year defeat of Kim Beazley for the ALP leadership has set up the ALP to come close in 2007.
2. Peter Beattie - this self-proclaimed media tart continues to have a dream run in Queensland.  No matter what happens, his image never seems to suffer.
3. Hugh Jackman - returned to Australia and shone as The Boy From Oz.
4. Shane Warne - retires on his terms as Australia regained The Ashes.
5. Guus Hiddink - well, an honourary Australian. 

Five important cases:

1. New South Wales v Commonwealth of Australia [2006] HCA 52 (14 November 2006) - the unsuccessful challenge to WorkChoices was not the first decision of the High Court that gave a broad interpretation to the corporations power, but it is arguably the most significant.  The Federal Government now clearly has the power to use the corporations to regulate areas that were originally one thought to be outside the scope of Federal legislative power - including education and health.
2. McKinnon v Secretary, Department of Treasury [2006] HCA 45 (6 September 2006) - the High Court's blow to freedom of information was a disappointing decision for Australia's democratic system.
3. Cooper v Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd [2006] FCAFC 187 (18 December 2006) - the Full Court of the Federal Court handed down this decision that linking can be authorisation of copyright infringement just before Christmas to widespread international concern.
4. Australian Broadcasting Corporation v O'Neill [2006] HCA 46 (28 September 2006) - an important decision in favour of free speech in cases of prior restraint. (See my summary of the case here.)
5. Forge v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2006] HCA 44 (5 September 2006) - the practice of appointing acting judges (rare in Queensland but surprisingly common in New South Wales) passed constitutional muster.