TIMES OF OUR LIVES
VICTORIANS have named same-sex marriage, the Twin Towers terror attack and Julia Gillard becoming Australia’s first female leader as some of the most significant events in history.
The powerful moments were revealed in a landmark Australian study which aimed to identify the moments which had lasting impacts.
Also on the list for Victoria was the Port Arthur massacre, Kevin Rudd’s apology to indigenous Australians, the Vietnam War, the global financial crisis and the Bali bombings.
More than 30 per cent of people from across the country said the marriage reforms resulting from last year’s plebiscite had the greatest historical impact during their lifetime.
The September 11 terror attacks came second, according to 27 per cent of Australians.
Results varied state-by-state with the Lindt Cafe siege and the Sydney Olympics scoring high in NSW.
Princess Diana’s death came in fourth for Tasmania.
In the Northern Territory gun law reform topped the list, along with marriage equality, the Mabo
The Silent Generation (73-93) said World War II, the moon landing, same-sex marriage, air travel, decimal currency and the introduction of television had been momentous to their lives.
Social Research Centre CEO Darren Pennay said despite the differing events between generations, war and terrorism appeared to have the biggest impact for all ages.
“Human rights issues, terrorism, Australian politics and war were the most recurrent themes in participant responses across all age groups,’’ Mr Pennay said.
“We are undoubtedly living through turbulent times both domestically and internationally, and the results show a keen interest in matters both here and abroad.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said Black Saturday was his most significant historically event, along with the Paul Keating election in 1993 and the Royal Commission into Domestic Violence.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy said his events were 9/11, Black Saturday and the fall of the Berlin Wall. 1. Same sex marriage 2. September 11 3. The Apology 4. Lindt Cafe siege 5. First female PM 6. Sydney Olympics 7. Gun law reform 8. Steve Irwin’s death 9. Iraq War 10. Bali bombings 1. Same sex marriage 2. September 11 3. The Apology 4. Sydney Olympics 5. Port Arthur 6. Global financial crisis 7. Bali bombings 8. First female PM 9. Lindt Cafe siege 10. Donald Trump election 1. September 11 2. Same sex marriage 3. Port Arthur 4. The Apology 5. Sydney Olympics 6. America’s Cup win 7. The internet 8. Bali bombings 9. First female PM 10. The Mabo decision 1. Vietnam War 2. Gough Whitlam dismissal 3. Same sex marriage 4. Moon landing 5. September 11 6. America’s Cup win 7. Port Arthur 8. Decimal currency 9. Sydney Olympics 10. Cyclone Tracy 1. World War II 2. Moon landing 3. Vietnam War 4. Gough Whitlam dismissal 5. Queen Elizabeth II 6. Same sex marriage 7. Air travel 8. Infrastructure project boom 9. Decimal currency 10. Television