19 February –
Darwin is bombed by Japanese forces for the first time. At least 243 persons are killed.
1 March – The cruiser
HMAS Perth is torpedoed by Japanese destroyers in the
Battle of Sunda Strait, sinking with the loss of 350 crew and three civilians.
3 March – 88 Allied civilians and military personnel were killed and 22 aircraft were lost when Japanese
Zero fightersstrafed Broome.
20 March – At
Terowie, South Australia, American General
Douglas MacArthur makes his famous speech which included the words "I came out of Bataan and I shall return."
7 June – The Income Tax (War-time Arrangements) Act 1942 is enacted, transferring the power to levy personal
income tax from the
states to the
federal government.
9 October - Australia adopts sections 2 to 6 of the
Statute of Westminster 1931 effectively ending British dominion
30 October – Construction begins on the
Burma Railway, begun by 15,000 Australian
prisoners-of-war captured by the Japanese after the fall of
Singapore.
16 November - Japan retreats from
Kokoda Trail with Australia being the Victor
26 November – A violent brawl breaks out in
Brisbane between United States military personnel and Australian servicemen and civilians, in what becomes known as the "
Battle of Brisbane". One Australian soldier is shot dead.