2018 Auburn Tigers football team, Spring game
The A-Day spring game was held on Saturday, April 7. Bad weather led to the lowest attendance for A-Day in the Gus Malzahn era as head coach, as only 28,033 showed up. The game was dominated by defense, and only 28 total points were scored between the two teams. Many starters did not play or did not see significant time on the field due to the amount of injuries Auburn had already suffered during the spring. For their performances, C.J. Tolbert was named Offensive MVP, Nick Coe was named Defensive MVP, and Anders Carlson was named Special Teams MVP.


2018 Auburn Tigers football team, Preseason, SEC media poll
The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018 with the Tigers predicted to finish in second place in the West Division.


2018 Auburn Tigers football team, Preseason, Preseason All-SEC teams
The Tigers had nine players selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.


2018 Auburn Tigers football team, Game summaries, Liberty
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2018 Auburn Tigers softball team
The 2018 Auburn Tigers softball team is an American softball team, representing Auburn University for the 2018 NCAA softball season. The Auburn Tigers play their home games at Jane B. Moore Field. The Tigers have a new coach, after former coach Clint Myers resigned his post on August 24, 2017. Mickey Dean was named as head coach on September 14, 2017, after coaching at James Madison University for 5 seasons.


2018 Auburn Tigers softball team
Auburn hopes to improve upon its 49-12 record a year ago that ended in the Super Regionals at the hands of the eventual National Champion Oklahoma Sooners.


2018 Auburn Tigers softball team
The Tigers were voted to finish 6th in the SEC in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, and opened 2018 ranked 13th in the USA Today/NFCA Softball national preseason poll.


2018 Auckland Darts Masters
The 2018 Auckland Darts Masters, presented by Burger King & TAB was the fourth staging of the tournament by the Professional Darts Corporation, as the fourth entry in the 2018 World Series of Darts. The tournament featured 16 players (eight PDC players facing eight regional qualifiers) and was held at The Trusts Arena in Auckland, New Zealand from 3–5 August 2018.


2018 Auckland Darts Masters
Kyle Anderson was the defending champion after defeating compatriot Corey Cadby 11–10 in the 2017 final, but lost 10–3 to Peter Wright in the quarter-finals.


2018 Auckland Darts Masters
Michael van Gerwen won the title after beating Raymond van Barneveld 11–4 in the final.


2018 Auckland Darts Masters, Qualifiers
The eight invited PDC representatives, (seeded according to the 2018 World Series of Darts Order of Merit) are:


2018 Auckland Darts Masters, Qualifiers
2018 UK Open runner-up Corey Cadby was originally announced as a PDC representative, before later being named as a regional qualifier, and then withdrawing due to a visa issue. Ben Robb replaced him.


2018 Auckland SuperSprint
The 2018 ITM Auckland SuperSprint was a motor racing event for Supercars, held on the weekend of 2 to 4 November 2018. The event was held at Pukekohe Park Raceway near Pukekohe, New Zealand, and consisted of two races, 200 kilometres in length. It was the 15th event of sixteen in the 2017 Supercars Championship and hosted races 28 and 29 of the season. It was the thirteenth running of the Auckland SuperSprint.


2018 Aussie Racing Car Series
The 2018 Aussie Racing Car Series was an Australian motor racing series open to Aussie Racing Cars, which are silhouette racing cars which use Yamaha FJ1300 engines and Kumho Tyres. It was sanctioned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) as an Authorised Series with the Series and Category owner, Aussie Racing Cars Pty Ltd, appointed by CAMS as the Category Manager. The series commenced at Baskerville Raceway in Tasmania on 23 February and concluded on 21 October at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit. James Duckworth was the defending series winner heading into the 2018 series, but opted not to defend his title.


2018 Aussie Racing Car Series, Series standings
Series standings after six of seven rounds were as follows:


2018 Austin Peay Governors football team
The 2018 Austin Peay Governors football team represented Austin Peay State University during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Governors, led by third-year head coach Will Healy, played their home games at Fortera Stadium as members of the Ohio Valley Conference. They finished the season 5–6, 3–5 in OVC play to finish in a tie for sixth place.


2018 Austin Peay Governors football team
On December 5, head coach Will Healy resigned to become the head coach at Charlotte. He finished at Austin Peay with a three-year record of 13–21.


2018 Austin Peay Governors football team, Previous season
The Governors finished the 2017 season 8–4, 7–1 in OVC play to finish in second place.


2018 Austin Peay Governors football team, Preseason, OVC media poll
On July 20, 2018, the media covering the OVC released their preseason poll with the Governors predicted to finish in second place. On July 23, the OVC released their coaches poll with the Governors also predicted to finish in second place.


2018 Austin Peay Governors football team, Preseason, Preseason All-OVC team
The Governors had five players selected to the preseason all-OVC team.


2018 Austin mayoral election
The 2018 Austin mayoral election was held on November 6, 2018 to elect the mayor of Austin, Texas. The election was a non-partisan mayoral election. If a candidate received a majority of the votes (50%+1 or greater), the candidate was elected, otherwise a runoff would be held between the top two candidates with the most votes. As incumbent Steve Adler secured a majority in the first round, a runoff was not required, and Adler was re-elected mayor for a second term.


2018 Austin mayoral election, Campaign
Adler entered the election with a strong fundraising advantage over his challengers.


2018 Austin mayoral election, Campaign
Adler's most formidable challenger was perceived to be former Austin City Council member Laura Morrison. Morrison had been a prominent critic of CodeNEXT (a shelved effort to rewrite the city's land development code) and the deal Adler was offering to bring a Major League Soccer team to the city.


2018 Australia Day Honours
The Australia Day Honours 2018 are appointments to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by Australian citizens. The list was announced on 26 January 2018 by the Governor General of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove.


2018 Australia Day Honours
The Australia Day Honours are the first of the two major annual honours lists, the first announced to coincide with Australia Day (26 January), with the other being the Queen's Birthday Honours, which are announced on the second Monday in June.


2018 Australia national soccer team season
This page summarises the Australia national soccer team fixtures and results in 2018.


2018 Australia national soccer team season, Summary
Australia participated in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, held in Russia in June and July. The draw took place in Moscow on 1 December 2017, with Australia drawn in Group C alongside France, Peru, and Denmark.


2018 Australia national soccer team season, Summary
On 25 January 2018, the FFA appointed Bert van Marwijk on a short-term contract for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.


2018 Australia national soccer team season, Summary
On 8 March 2018 the FFA announced that Graham Arnold would take over the head coach position from van Marwijk at the conclusion of the World Cup and will continue in the role until the 2022 FIFA World Cup.


2018 Australia national soccer team season, Summary
On 24 March 2018, Australia played their first match under the management of van Marwijk, playing a friendly against Norway at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo. Van Marwijk reverted from Ange Postecoglou's favoured formation of three-at-the-back to the more traditional four defenders formation, and handed international debuts to Andrew Nabbout, Dimitri Petratos, and Aleksandar Susnjar. Despite going ahead in the 20th minute after a goal by Jackson Irvine, Australia lost the match 4–1. A few days later, Australia drew 0–0 in a friendly match against Colombia at Craven Cottage in London, with Danny Vukovic saving an 86th minute penalty.


2018 Australia national soccer team season, Summary
More than 2 months later, on 1 June 2018, Australia played the first of two friendlies in preparation for the World Cup. They beat Czech Republic 4–0 at NV Arena in Sankt Pölten, Austria, with Mathew Leckie scoring a brace and Nabbout scoring his first international goal. Six minutes before the end of the game, teenager Daniel Arzani was subbed on, making his international debut. In the second friendly on 9 June 2018, Australia defeated Hungary 2–1 in Budapest, with Arzani scoring his first goal for the national team before both teams scored own goals late in the game.


2018 Australia national soccer team season, Summary
Australia entered the World Cup ranked 36 in the official FIFA World Rankings. In their first match, Australia lost 2–1 to France with Mile Jedinak scoring the goal for Australia from a penalty kick given after Samuel Umtiti handled the ball in the box. France scored with a penalty by Antoine Griezmann after Uruguayan referee Andrés Cunha consulted VAR and with a deflected shot by Paul Pogba which was confirmed by goal line technology.


2018 Australia national soccer team season, Summary
Arzani was subbed on in the 84th minute and at the age of 19 years and 163 days became the youngest player to ever make a World Cup appearance for Australia. In their second match, Australia drew 1–1 with Denmark with Jedinak scoring the goal for Australia from a penalty kick given after Yussuf Poulsen handled the ball in the box which was confirmed by VAR. Denmark had opened the scoring from a goal by Christian Eriksen. In their third and final match, Australia lost to Peru 2–0, with André Carrillo and Paolo Guerrero scoring from open play.


2018 Australia national soccer team season, Summary
During their first match under new coach Arnold, and also their first match following the World Cup, Australia beat Kuwait 4–0, leading via an own goal from Khalid El Ebrahim, with Apostolos Giannou and Tom Rogic scoring the second and third goals. Awer Mabil sealed the scoreline, scoring his first senior international goal. The game was also marked by Mabil and Thomas Deng making their senior debuts for Australia, with both South Sudanese refugees growing up together and playing together during their boyhood. Their debuts lead to tributes on social media, led by Patrice Evra.


2018 Australia national soccer team season, Summary
In the beginning of November, upcoming star Arzani was injured while playing for his club Celtic during a domestic match, rupturing his ACL, most likely ruling him out for the season.


2018 Australia national soccer team season, Summary
In mid-November Australia played two friendly matches in Australia in preparation for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, against South Korea and against Lebanon. The match against South Korea ended in a 1–1 draw, with Massimo Luongo equalising in the 94th minute, cancelling-out Hwang Ui-jo's opening goal. The match against Lebanon was a send-off match for Tim Cahill, who played 9 minutes and marked his 108th and final appearance for Australia. Australia won the match 3–0 with Martin Boyle, on his starting debut, scoring twice and assisting Leckie for the third goal. Australia finished the year, beating Oman 5–0 as a final warm-up for the AFC Asian Cup. Chris Ikonomidis and Milos Degenek scored their first international goals, while Nabbout, Mabil, and Irvine also scored.


2018 Australia national soccer team season, Summary
Australia finished the year ranked 41 on the official FIFA rankings released on 20 December, 5 places lower than in the January rankings.


2018 Australia national soccer team season, Player statistics
Correct as of 30 December 2018 (v.  Oman). Numbers are listed by player's number in World Cup or last friendly played


2018 Australian Formula 3 Premier Series
The 2018 Australian Formula 3 Premier Series was an Australian open-wheel racing series for FIA Formula 3 cars constructed and conforming to the regulations before and including 2011. The series began on 10 March 2018 at Winton Motor Raceway and concluded on 21 October 2018 at The Bend Motorsport Park. Organised by Formula Three Management Pty Ltd, it was the third running of the Australian Formula 3 Premier Series.


2018 Australian Formula 3 Premier Series
The series was won by Harri Jones driving a Dallara F311 Mercedes-Benz.


2018 Australian Formula 3 Premier Series, Teams and drivers
The following teams and drivers contested the 2018 Australian Formula 3 Premier Series. All teams and drivers were Australian-registered.


2018 Australian Formula 3 Premier Series, Calendar & race results
The series was contested over six rounds. All rounds were held in Australia.


2018 Australian Formula 4 Championship
The 2018 CAMS Australian Formula 4 Championship (initially known for sponsorship purposes as the CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship and later as the CAMS Payce Australian Formula 4 Championship) was the fourth Australian Formula 4 Championship, a motor racing competition for open-wheel racing cars complying with Formula 4 regulations, which were created by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) for entry-level open-wheel championships. Teams and drivers competed in twenty-one races at six venues, starting on 7 April and ending on 4 November.


2018 Australian Formula 4 Championship, Entries
The following drivers contested the championship. The following Australian-registered teams and drivers contested the championship.


2018 Australian Formula 4 Championship, Entries
Each entry utilised a Mygale M14-F4 chassis and a Ford engine.


2018 Australian Formula 4 Championship, Calendar
The 2018 championship was held across seven rounds in Australia and New Zealand, supporting the Supercars Championship and the Shannons Nationals.


2018 Australian Formula 4 Championship, Championship standings
Bold – PoleItalics – Fastest lap† — Did not finish, but classified


2018 Australian Formula Ford Series
The 2018 Australian Formula Ford Series was an Australian motor racing competition for Formula Ford and Formula Ford 1600 Racing Cars. The series, which was organised by the Formula Ford Association Inc,  was the 49th Australian Formula Ford Series.


2018 Australian Formula Ford Series
The Formula Ford (Duratec) class was won by Hunter McElrea driving a Mygale SJ10A and the Formula Ford 1600 (Kent) class by Dylan Fahey driving a Van Diemen.


2018 Australian GT Championship
The 2018 Australian GT Championship was the 22nd running of the Australian GT Championship, a CAMS-sanctioned Australian motor racing championship open to FIA GT3 cars and similar cars as approved for the championship. The championship commenced on 23 March 2018 at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit and concluded on 14 October at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. The 2018 Australian Endurance Championship was contested concurrently with Rounds 2, 4 and 6 of the GT Championship. It was the 15th Australian Endurance Championship.


2018 Australian GT Championship
The Australian GT Championship was won by Geoff Emery  driving an Audi R8 LMS and the Australian Endurance Championship by Max Twigg and Tony D'Alberto who shared a Mercedes-AMG GT3.


2018 Australian GT Championship, Race calendar
The Australian GT Championship was contested over six rounds and the Australian Endurance Championship over three rounds. Each race, with the exception of the Australian Grand Prix round of the Australian GT Championship, included at least one compulsory timed pit stop.


2018 Australian GT Championship, Australian GT Championship, Championship standings
Championship standings after five of six rounds were as follows:


2018 Australian GT Championship, Australian GT Championship, Australian GT4 standings
The GT4 Division was won by Jeremy Gray  driving an Aston Martin Vantage.


2018 Australian GT Championship, Australian Endurance Championship, Championship standings
The Australian Endurance Championship was won by Max Twigg and Tony D'Alberto.


2018 Australian GT Championship, Australian Endurance Championship, Championship standings
Championship standings after two of three rounds were as follows:


2018 Australian GT Trophy Series
The 2018 Australian GT Trophy Series was an Australian motor racing competition for FIA GT3 cars and similar approved automobiles. It was contested over a five rounds series which was managed by Trofeo Motorsport Pty Ltd and sanctioned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) as an Authorised Series.


2018 Australian GT Trophy Series
The series was won by Nick Kelly  driving an Audi R8 LMS Ultra.


2018 Australian Grand Prix
The 2018 Australian Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 2018 Rolex Australian Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 25 March 2018 in Melbourne, Victoria. The race was contested at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit and was the first round of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship. The race marked the 83rd race in the combined history of the Australian Grand Prix – which dates back to the 100 Miles Road Race of 1928 – and the 23rd time the event was held at the Albert Park circuit.


2018 Australian Grand Prix
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel was the defending race winner. Lewis Hamilton started the race from pole – his seventh pole position in Australia, a record for the event – while Vettel successfully defended his race win, the 48th of his career.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Background
The Australian Grand Prix was officially confirmed as the first of 21 races of the 2018 Formula One World Championship in an FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris in December 2017. It took place at the 15-turn 5.303 km (3.295 mi) Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Victoria on 25 March 2018. Tyre supplier Pirelli brought three types of tyre to the Grand Prix: three dry compounds (the purple-banded ultrasoft "option", the red-banded supersoft and the yellow-banded soft "prime" tyres).


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Background
In the week before the Grand Prix, race officials confirmed the inclusion of a third drag reduction system (DRS) zone. The detection point for the third zone was positioned on the approach to the turns 11 and 12 chicane with the activation point on the exit to turn 12. The existing DRS zones were unchanged from previous years, with one positioned on the main straight and the second on the straight between turns two and three.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Background
The race marked the competitive début of the "halo" cockpit protection device after 18 months of rigorous testing. The wishbone-shaped frame mounted above and around the driver's head was developed following a series of major accidents in open wheel racing, such as the death of Henry Surtees in a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch in 2009 and Felipe Massa sustaining a head injury from being struck in the helmet by a detached coil spring from Rubens Barrichello's car at the Hungaroring six days later.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Background
In response to concerns about the halo impairing drivers' visibility, the world governing body of motorsport, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), lowered the starting gantries at circuits to improve the starting lights visibility. Furthermore, drivers were permitted to execute practice standing starts after the conclusion of both Friday practice sessions to acquaint themselves with the lowered gantries.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Out of the 10 teams and 20 drivers on the starting grid, two drivers made their debut. Charles Leclerc, the reigning Formula 2 champion and 2016 GP3 Series title winner, made his competitive début with Sauber. Leclerc, who had previously driven in Friday practice sessions in 2016 and 2017, was hired by the team to replace Pascal Wehrlein, who could not find a race seat and was instead enlisted as one of Mercedes's test and reserve drivers while racing full-time in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters series.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Massa retired from Formula One at the conclusion of the 2017 championship, and was replaced at Williams by former Renault test driver and SMP Racing driver Sergey Sirotkin, who made his competitive début with the team. Elsewhere, Toro Rosso employed 2016 GP2 Series champion Pierre Gasly and two-time World Endurance co-champion Brendon Hartley as their full-time drivers for 2018 after the pair debuted with the squad in the latter stages of the 2017 championship.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Background
At the front of the field, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel in the Mercedes and Ferrari cars respectively were the favourites to battle for the Drivers' Championship, with both drivers having the opportunity to equal Juan Manuel Fangio in number of championships with five. Hamilton said he had not mulled about the prospects of equalling Fangio during the winter hiatus but the potential of doing so excited him, "In my mind I want to break barriers, push the envelope and see how far I can take the ability I have and reach my full potential.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Background
I don’t know what that is, so that’s what I’m discovering. I hope that I haven’t reached my peak yet. I’m sure there is one, when your fitness level is harder to reach or your interest or drive starts to decline, but I’m definitely not there. I’m in a good range right now and aim to continue to extract the most that I can."


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Background
However, Vettel stated he was unconcerned with it as he anticipated the events of the upcoming season and not those in the far future, "That’s a long way ahead, and we all know how many things need to come together to fight for the championship to the end of the season, and to win it. Times are also very different to when Fangio achieved his five titles, and every era has its different challenges. So it’s not in my mind now, let’s say."


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Practice
Per the regulations for the 2018 season, three practice sessions were held, two 90-minute sessions on Friday and another 60-minute session before qualifying on Saturday. The first practice session took place in sunny weather conditions. On the supersoft compound tyres, Hamilton set the fastest time in the opening practice session with a 1-minute and 24.026 seconds lap, followed by his teammate Valtteri Bottas who was 0.551 seconds slower in second place and Max Verstappen of Red Bull was third.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Practice
The Ferrari duo of Kimi Räikkönen and Vettel were fourth and fifth with Daniel Ricciardo sixth in the second Red Bull car. Haas' Romain Grosjean, Fernando Alonso of McLaren (who remained in the garage for first practice's first hour with an exhaust problem), Carlos Sainz Jr. for Renault and Alonso's teammate Stoffel Vandoorne (who had driveability issues) rounded out the session's top ten drivers. Though the session passed without any major incidents, Vettel and Haas driver Kevin Magnussen both ran into the grass beside the track surface.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Practice
In the second practice session, Verstappen was the early pace setter after ten minutes and held the top position until Bottas beat his time. Hamilton went to the top of the time sheets soon after until Räikkönen moved ahead of him 35 minutes into the session. Hamilton later switched onto the ultrasoft compound tyres and then recorded the fastest lap of the day with a time of 1 minute and 23.931 seconds, which was not bettered for the remainder of practice as drivers conducted qualifying simulations and then driving on track for a long period of time.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Practice
Verstappen, Bottas, Räikkönen, Vettel, Grosjean, Ricciardo, Alonso, Magnussen and Vandoorne followed in positions two through ten. Early in the session, Esteban Ocon lost control of his Force India and ran into the turn three gravel trap but he rejoined without trouble. Räikkönen was slow in turn three as Bottas approached him. He steered to the middle and Bottas swerved to the outside under braking due to a miscommunication that sent him into the gravel trap. The session was stopped for five minutes when a timing cable wire detached and fell onto the start/finish straight and was picked up by track marshals quickly.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Practice
After the second practice session, Ricciardo incurred a three-place grid penalty and two super licence penalty points from the stewards for not staying above the minimum time as established in the FIA's electronic control unit under red flag conditions. They also concluded that Räikkönen had not "unnecessarily impeded" Bottas and was not penalised. Thunderstorms on Saturday morning saturated the track and made it slippery to drive on. Wet-weather tyres were used for the majority of the session before it dried sufficiently enough to warrant the use of dry tyre compounds.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Practice
Vettel set the fastest lap at 1 minute and 26.067 seconds with his teammate Räikkönen in second. Sauber's Marcus Ericsson was third, ahead of Verstappen, Sainz and Ricciardo. The Mercedes of Bottas and Hamilton along with the McLarens of Vandoorne and Alonso completed the top ten ahead of qualifying.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Practice
During the session, in which Verstappen and Nico Hülkenberg of Renault slithered exiting turn ten, the steering wheel on Hamilton's car was replaced in the pit lane when it developed a technical fault, and owing to a lack of spare car parts, Force India chose not to set any timed laps during the one-hour period.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
Saturday afternoon's qualifying session was divided into three parts. The first part ran for 18 minutes, eliminating cars that finished 16th or below. The 107% rule was in effect during this part, requiring drivers to set a time within 107% of the fastest lap in order to qualify. The second part lasted 15 minutes, eliminating cars that finished 11th to 15th, before the third and final part that ran for 12 minutes and determined pole position to tenth.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
In the first part of qualifying (Q1), track conditions improved greatly as drivers settled into undertaking long distance runs to acquaint themselves with the evolving conditions. Hamilton led the session with a lap of 1 minute and 22.824 seconds that he recorded on his second attempt, ahead of the Ferrari duo of Räikkönen and Vettel. The Red Bulls of Verstappen and Ricciardo were fourth and fifth. The five drivers who were eliminated from qualifying in Q1 were Hartley, the Saubers of Ericsson and Leclerc, Sirotkin, and Gasly after he made a driving error and ran into the turn three gravel trap after he locked his tyres.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
To commence the second qualifying session (Q2), Red Bull elected to send their drivers out on the supersoft compound tyres rather than the ultrasoft compound tyres and this determined which type of tyre the team would start the race on. Räikkönen was the early pace setter after all competitors set their first timed laps but it was Hamilton who improved his effort and lowered his own pole position lap time from the previous year.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
But it was Vettel in the second Ferrari who was the first driver to set a lap time below the 1 minute and 21 seconds mark all weekend with a 1-minute and 21.944 seconds effort. Alonso and Vandoorne in the two McLarens were eliminated from contending for pole position when both Haas and Renault drivers bettered their personal best laps despite the latter team's drivers locking their tyres. Sergio Pérez for Force India, Williams' Lance Stroll (who went off the track at the third corner) and Ocon were the final three drivers not to progress into the final qualifying session (Q3).


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
As he began his first timed lap in Q3, Bottas took too much kerb on the exit to the first turn, which was damp from the earlier rain, causing him to run wide, and he spun from having excessive wheelspin into the right-hand side barrier at turn two, and crashed heavily in an impact measured at 27 g. His car spun ending up in the middle of the track with debris littered across it. The session was temporarily stopped to repair the barriers and clean up the debris.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
When Q3 restarted, Hamilton paced the field but his first lap was slower than in Q2, possibly because of fluid deposited by his teammate Bottas between turns one and two. He then improved his lap to a circuit-record 1 minute and 21.164 seconds to clinch pole position. It was his fifth consecutive pole position at the track, his seventh overall in Melbourne to move past Ayrton Senna in the number of pole positions in Australia, and the 73rd of his career. He was joined on the grid's front row by Räikkönen who recorded a lap 0.664 seconds slower and his teammate Vettel was third after a driving error at turn 13. Verstappen qualified in the fourth position.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Post-qualifying
Following his crash that brought Q3 to a stop, Bottas was transported to the circuit's medical centre for a precautionary check-up and he was declared fit to race. However, he was handed a five-place grid penalty because Mercedes discovered his car's gearbox was damaged in the crash. The grid lined up after penalties as Hamilton, Räikkönen, Vettel, Verstappen, Magnussen, Grosjean, Hülkenberg, Ricciardo, Sainz, Alonso, Vandoorne, Pérez, Stroll, Ocon, Bottas, Hartley, Ericsson, Leclerc, Sirotkin and Gasly.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Race
After the start the top three stayed in the same order they started while Verstappen lost a place to Magnussen at the start. Sergey Sirotkin was the first retirement of the race when on lap 4 he retired due to a brake failure caused by overheating. On lap 9, Verstappen spun at turn one while chasing Magnussen and dropped down to eighth. Hamilton led Räikkönen, Vettel, Magnussen, Grosjean, Ricciardo, Hülkenberg, Verstappen, Sainz and Alonso. They stayed in that order until the first round of pit stops. On lap 18 Räikkönen pitted for softs.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Race
On lap 19 Hamilton pitted for softs to cover Räikkönen and emerged on track ahead of him. Verstappen pitted on lap 20. Magnussen pitted at the end of lap 21, but retired the next lap due to the cross-threaded wheel-nut being fitted loosely. On lap 24, Grosjean retired at turn 2 from seventh after pitting with the same problem as his teammate Magnussen resulting in a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) being called out. On lap 26 Vettel pitted under the VSC and emerged ahead of Hamilton and Räikkönen.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Mercedes miscalculated the required gap between Vettel and Hamilton to prevent a jump under the safety car before Vettel's pit stop due to a software glitch. After the first round of pit stops Vettel led with Hamilton second and Räikkönen in third. Alonso pitted under the VSC to emerge ahead of Verstappen. On lap 27 the full-course Safety Car was called out. The safety car came in at the end of lap 31. This left the top ten Vettel, Hamilton, Räikkönen, Ricciardo, Alonso, Verstappen, Hülkenberg, Bottas, Vandoorne and Sainz. None of the top ten pitted again.


2018 Australian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Ricciardo hounded Räikkönen for the rest of the race, setting the fastest lap in the process. Alonso resisted the pressure from Verstappen while holding on to fifth place. Vettel took the chequered flag to win the Australian Grand Prix for the second consecutive year, followed by Hamilton and Räikkönen rounding the podium. Ricciardo, Alonso, Verstappen, Hülkenberg, Bottas, Vandoorne and Sainz in that order completed the top ten, with Renault scoring their first double-points-finish since the 2011 Turkish Grand Prix. Ricciardo's 4th-placed finish marked his joint best finish at Albert Park, but also the joint best finish for an Australian at the Australian Grand Prix, equalling his 2016 result, and Mark Webber's 4th place in 2012.


2018 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) leadership election
An election for the leadership of the New South Wales branch of the Australian Labor Party, the party of opposition in the New South Wales, was held on 10 November 2018. The election was triggered following the resignation of Opposition Leader Luke Foley on 8 November 2018.


2018 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) leadership election
Foley's deputy Michael Daley who became acting leader upon Foley's resignation was formalised into the leadership when he won the caucus vote beating Shadow Water Minister Chris Minns, 33 votes to 12.


2018 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) leadership election, Background
Following the defeat of Labor in the 2015 election, then leader Luke Foley remained as head of the party and opposition despite being in the position for a little more than three months. In October 2018, allegations were raised by NSW Corrections Minister David Elliott about an incident Foley had "a little bit too much to drink at a party and harassed an ABC journalist." Later that month, ABC journalist Ashleigh Raper released a statement, alleging that at an event in November 2016, Foley "placed his hand down the back of her dress and inside her underpants."


2018 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) leadership election, Background
Hours later, Foley read a statement in which he resigned as leader of the Labor Party, but denied the allegation and said he would commence defamation proceedings in the Federal Court. As a result, the position of Labor leader and head of the opposition was vacated, three years after the election of Foley as leader.


2018 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) leadership election, Background
On 9 November, acting leader Michael Daley announced that he will contest the position and was widely tipped to succeed Foley and become New South Wales' 38th Leader of the Opposition. Later in the afternoon, Shadow Minister for Water Chris Minns announced that he intended to contest Daley for the leadership role.


2018 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) leadership election, Background
The leadship election came four months before the March 2019 election. It marked the second time in a row that the party had to elect a new leader just months out from an election. On the previous occasion, John Robertson resigned in December 2014, three months before the March 2015 election and Foley was elected as his permanent replacement.


2018 Australian Labor Party National Conference
The 2018 Australian Labor Party National Conference was the 48th triennial National Conference of the Australian Labor Party. It took place in Adelaide from Sunday 16 to Tuesday 18 December 2018. Over 2,000 people attended.


2018 Australian Labor Party National Conference, Scheduling of the conference
The conference was originally scheduled for 26–28 July. However, on 24 May, the Liberal Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tony Smith, announced that five by-elections — four were caused by the 2017-18 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis — would be held on 28 July. Labor accused the Speaker of being "disgraceful and sneaky" over the timing, and announced that it would postpone the conference to enable the party to campaign. A week later, the new dates were announced.


2018 Australian Men's Curling Championship
The 2018 Australian Men's Curling Championship was held from 7 to 10 June 2018 at the Naseby Curling Club in Naseby, New Zealand. The winners of this championship will represent Australia at the 2018 Pacific-Asia Curling Championships.


2018 Australian Men's Curling Championship
At the same time 2018 Australian Women's Curling Championship and 2018 Australian Mixed Curling Championship were held at the Naseby Curling Club.


2018 Australian Mixed Curling Championship
The 2018 Australian Mixed Curling Championship was held from June 7 to 10, 2018 at the Naseby Curling Club in Naseby, New Zealand. The winners of this championship will represent Australia at the 2018 World Mixed Curling Championship.


2018 Australian Mixed Curling Championship
At the same time 2018 Australian Men's Curling Championship and 2018 Australian Women's Curling Championship were held at the Naseby Curling Club.


2018 Australian Open
The 2018 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played at Melbourne Park between 15 and 28 January 2018, and was the first Grand Slam tournament of the 2018 season. The tournament consisted of events for professional players in singles, doubles and mixed doubles play. Junior and wheelchair players compete in singles and doubles tournaments. Roger Federer was the defending champion in the men's singles event and successfully retained his title (his sixth), defeating Marin Čilić in the final, while Caroline Wozniacki won the women's title, defeating Simona Halep in the final to win her first Grand Slam.


2018 Australian Open
The tournament was the 106th edition of the event (the 50th edition of the Open Era). Additionally, it was the 200th Major tournament of the Open Era. It also marked the 30th anniversary of the Australian Open moving from the Kooyong Tennis Club to Melbourne Park. The tournament had a record attendance of 743,667 spectators.


2018 Australian Open, Tournament
The 2018 Australian Open was the 106th edition of the tournament and was held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.


2018 Australian Open, Tournament
The tournament was run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and was part of the 2018 ATP World Tour and the 2018 WTA Tour calendars under the Grand Slam category. The tournament consisted of both men's and women's singles and doubles draws as well as a mixed doubles event. There were singles and doubles events for both boys and girls (players under 18), which were part of the Grade A category of tournaments, and also singles, doubles and quad events for men's and women's wheelchair tennis players as part of the NEC tour under the Grand Slam category.


2018 Australian Open, Tournament
The tournament was played on hard courts over a series of 25 courts, including the three main show courts: Rod Laver Arena, Hisense Arena and Margaret Court Arena.


2018 Australian Open, Point and prize money distribution, Point distribution
Below is a series of tables for each of the competitions showing the ranking points offered for each event.


2018 Australian Open, Point and prize money distribution, Prize money
The Australian Open total prize money for 2018 was increased by 10% to a tournament record A$55,000,000.


2018 Australian Open, Point and prize money distribution, Prize money
1Qualifiers prize money was also the Round of 128 prize money. *per team


2018 Australian Open, Singles seeds
The following are the seeded players and notable players who have withdrawn from the event. Seedings are arranged according to ATP and WTA rankings on 8 January 2018, while ranking and points before are as of 15 January 2018. Points after are as of 29 January 2018.


2018 Australian Open, Singles seeds, Men's singles
The following players would have been seeded, but they withdrew from the event.


2018 Australian Open, Singles seeds, Women's singles
The following players would have been seeded, but they withdrew or not entered from the event.


2018 Australian Open, Main draw qualifier entries
The qualifying competition started in Melbourne Park on 10 January 2018 and was scheduled to end on 13 January 2018. However, matches were extended to 14 January 2018 due to bad weather on the third day of qualifying.


2018 Australian Open, Protected ranking
The following players were accepted directly into the main draw using a protected ranking:


2018 Australian Open, Withdrawals
The following players were accepted directly into the main tournament, but withdrew with injuries or other reasons.


2018 Australian Open (badminton)
The 2018 Australian Open (officially known as the Crown Group Australian Open 2018 for sponsorship reasons) was a badminton tournament which took place at Quaycentre in Australia from 8 to 13 May 2018 and had a total purse of $150,000.


2018 Australian Open (badminton), Tournament
The 2018 Australian Open was the ninth tournament of the 2018 BWF World Tour and also part of the Australian Open championships, which had been held since 1975. This tournament was organized by Badminton Australia and sanctioned by the BWF.


2018 Australian Open (badminton), Tournament, Venue
This international tournament was held at Quaycentre in Sydney, Australia.


2018 Australian Open (badminton), Tournament, Point distribution
Below is the point distribution for each phase of the tournament based on the BWF points system for the BWF World Tour Super 300 event.


2018 Australian Open (badminton), Tournament, Prize money
The total prize money for this tournament was US$150,000. Distribution of prize money was in accordance with BWF regulations.


2018 Australian Open (badminton), Men's singles, Wild card
Badminton Australia awarded a wild card entry to Anthony Joe of Australia.


2018 Australian Open (table tennis)
The 2018 Australian Open was the eighth event of the 2018 ITTF World Tour. The event was organised by ITTF-Oceania, under the authority of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). It was the fifth of six top-tier Platinum events on the tour, and took place from 26–29 July in Geelong, Australia.


2018 Australian Open – Boys' Doubles
Hugo Gaston and Clément Tabur won the Boys' Doubles tennis title at the 2018 Australian Open, defeating Rudolf Molleker and Henri Squire in the final, 6–2, 6–2.


2018 Australian Open – Boys' Doubles
Hsu Yu-hsiou and Zhao Lingxi were the defending champions, but Hsu was no longer eligible to participate in junior tournaments and Zhao chose not to participate.


2018 Australian Open – Boys' Singles
Sebastian Korda, the son of 1998 men's singles champion Petr Korda, won the Boys' Singles tennis title at the 2018 Australian Open, defeating Tseng Chun-hsin in the final, 7–6(8–6), 6–4.


2018 Australian Open – Boys' Singles
Zsombor Piros was the defending champion, but was no longer eligible to participate in junior tournaments.


2018 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries
The 2018 Australian Open described in detail, in the form of day-by-day summaries.


2018 Australian Open – Girls' Doubles
Liang En-shuo and Wang Xinyu won the Girls' Doubles tennis title at the 2018 Australian Open, defeating Violet Apisah and Lulu Sun in the final, 7–6(7–4), 4–6, [10–5].


2018 Australian Open – Girls' Doubles
Bianca Andreescu and Carson Branstine were the defending champions, but both players chose not to participate.


2018 Australian Open – Girls' Singles
Liang En-shuo won the girls' singles title at the 2018 Australian Open, defeating Clara Burel in the final, 6–3, 6–4.


2018 Australian Open – Girls' Singles
Marta Kostyuk was the defending champion, but withdrew as she was still competing in the women's tournament.


2018 Australian Open – Main Draw Wildcard Entries
The 2018 Australian Open Wildcard Playoffs and Entries are a group of events and internal selections to choose the eight men and eight women singles wildcard entries for the 2018 Australian Open, as well as seven male and seven female doubles teams plus eight mixed-doubles teams.


2018 Australian Open – Main Draw Wildcard Entries, US Wildcard Challenge
The USTA awarded a wildcard to the man and woman that earned the most ranking points across a group of three ATP/Challenger hardcourt events in the October and November 2017. For the men, the events included ATP Paris, $75K Canberra, $75K Charlottesville, $75K+H Shenzhen, €106K+H Bratislava, €85K+H Mouilleron-le-Captif, $50K+H Kobe, $75K Knoxville, $75K Champaign and $50K+H Pune events. For the women, the events included $80K Macon, $80K Tyler and $80K Waco. Only the best two results from the three weeks of challengers were taken into account with the winners being Tim Smyczek and Taylor Townsend.


2018 Australian Open – Main Draw Wildcard Entries, Australian Women's Wildcard Challenge
Tennis Australia awarded a singles wildcard and a doubles wildcard to the Australian women that earned the most ranking points across a group of two ITF hardcourt events in the October and November 2017. The events included the 2017 Canberra Tennis International and the 2017 Bendigo Women's International. The winners of the wildcards were Olivia Rogowska, and Alison Bai and Zoe Hives, respectively.


2018 Australian Open – Main Draw Wildcard Entries, Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff
The Asia-Pacific Australian Open Wildcard Play-off featured 16-players in the men's and women's singles draws and took place from 29 November to 3 December 2017 at Hengqin International Tennis Centre in Zhuhai, China.


2018 Australian Open – Main Draw Wildcard Entries, Australian Wildcard Playoff
The December Showdown is held annually for two weeks in December. The Showdown includes age championships for 12/u, 14/u, 16/u and 18/u age categories. It also hosts the 2018 Australian Wildcard Playoff which will be held from 11–17 December 2017 at Melbourne Park, offering a main draw singles wildcard for men and women and a main draw women's doubles wildcard. The winner of the girls' 18/u championship will also be given a main draw wildcard into the 2018 Australian Open.


2018 Australian Open – Men's Doubles
Henri Kontinen and John Peers were the defending champions, but lost in the second round to Radu Albot and Chung Hyeon.


2018 Australian Open – Men's Doubles
Oliver Marach and Mate Pavić won the title, defeating Juan Sebastián Cabal and Robert Farah in the final, 6–4, 6–4.


2018 Australian Open – Men's Doubles, Seeds
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.


2018 Australian Open – Men's Singles
Defending champion Roger Federer successfully defended his title, defeating Marin Čilić in the final, 6–2, 6–7(5–7), 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 to win the Men's Singles tennis title at the 2018 Australian Open. It was Federer's then-record-equalling sixth Australian Open title (tied with Roy Emerson and Novak Djokovic) and record-extending 20th major singles title.


2018 Australian Open – Men's Singles
With the win, Federer became the first man to win at least six titles at two major tournaments (six at the Australian Open and eight at Wimbledon). Federer became the oldest man to win a major singles title in the Open Era since Ken Rosewall in 1972. This was the 10th time that Federer defended a major title, with the previous time being at the 2008 US Open. Čilić became the first Croatian player to reach an Australian Open singles final.


2018 Australian Open – Men's Singles
Federer and Rafael Nadal were in contention for the ATP no. 1 singles ranking. Nadal retained the top ranking by reaching the fourth round. It was the first time since the 2011 Australian Open that Federer and Nadal were the top two seeds at a major. Nadal attempted to become the first man in the Open Era and the third man ever to achieve a double career Grand Slam, but retired in the quarterfinals due to injury.


2018 Australian Open – Men's Singles
This was the first time since the 2008 Wimbledon Championships that two unseeded players (Chung Hyeon and Kyle Edmund) reached the semifinals of a major men's singles event, and the first time at the Australian Open since 1999. Chung became the first South Korean player to reach the quarterfinals and semifinals of a major event.


2018 Australian Open – Men's Singles
Djokovic's fourth-round loss to Chung was his first straight-sets loss at the Australian Open since 2007.


2018 Australian Open – Men's Singles
It was also the last Australian Open appearance for 2006 finalist and former world No. 8 Marcos Baghdatis.


2018 Australian Open – Men's Singles, Seeds
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.


2018 Australian Open – Men's Singles Qualifying
This article displays the qualifying draw for men's singles at the 2018 Australian Open.


2018 Australian Open – Mixed Doubles
Abigail Spears and Juan Sebastián Cabal were the defending champions, but lost in the quarterfinals to Tímea Babos and Rohan Bopanna.


2018 Australian Open – Mixed Doubles
Gabriela Dabrowski and Mate Pavić won the Mixed Doubles tennis title at the 2018 Australian Open, defeating Babos and Bopanna in the final, 2–6, 6–4, [11–9].


2018 Australian Open – Wheelchair Men's Doubles
Joachim Gérard and Gordon Reid were the defending champions but Gérard chose not to participate. Reid chose to partner alongside Alfie Hewett, but they lost in the final to Stéphane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer, 6–4, 6–2.


2018 Australian Open – Wheelchair Men's Singles
Gustavo Fernández was the defending champion, but lost to Nicolas Peifer in the first round.


2018 Australian Open – Wheelchair Men's Singles
Shingo Kunieda won the title, defeating Stéphane Houdet in the final, 4–6, 6–1, 7–6(7–3).


2018 Australian Open – Wheelchair Quad Doubles
Andrew Lapthorne and David Wagner were the defending champions, but lost in the final to Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson, 6–0, 6–7(5–7), [10–6].


2018 Australian Open – Wheelchair Quad Singles
Dylan Alcott, the three-time defending champion, successfully defended his title, defeating David Wagner in the final, 7–6(7–1), 6–1.


2018 Australian Open – Wheelchair Women's Doubles
Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot were the defending champions but Griffioen chose not to participate. Van Koot chose to partner Diede de Groot, but they lost to Marjolein Buis and Yui Kamiji in the final, 6–0, 6–4.


2018 Australian Open – Wheelchair Women's Singles
Yui Kamiji was the defending champion, but lost to Diede de Groot in the final, 7–6(8–6), 6–4.


2018 Australian Open – Women's Doubles
Tímea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic won the Women's Doubles tennis title at the 2018 Australian Open, defeating Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the final, 6–4, 6–3. It was the first Grand Slam title for Babos, who became the first Hungarian player to win a Grand Slam event since Andrea Temesvári in the 1986 French Open and the second Grand Slam title for Mladenovic.


2018 Australian Open – Women's Doubles
Makarova and Vesnina were attempting to achieve the career Grand Slam, the career Golden Slam and the career Super Slam.


2018 Australian Open – Women's Doubles
Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Šafářová were the defending champions, but Mattek-Sands could not participate this year due to injury. Šafářová played alongside Barbora Strýcová, but lost in the quarterfinals to Hsieh Su-wei and Peng Shuai.


2018 Australian Open – Women's Doubles, Seeds
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.


2018 Australian Open – Women's Singles
Caroline Wozniacki defeated Simona Halep in the final, 7–6(7–2), 3–6, 6–4 to win the Women's Singles tennis title at the 2018 Australian Open. Wozniacki was the first Danish player to win a Grand Slam singles title.


2018 Australian Open – Women's Singles
Wozniacki also regained the WTA no. 1 singles ranking for the first time since 2012. Both finalists saved match points earlier in the tournament: Halep saved three match points against Lauren Davis in the third round and two match points against Angelique Kerber in the semifinals, while Wozniacki saved two match points against Jana Fett in the second round. Halep lost in a Grand Slam final for the third time, though she would eventually win the French Open months later.


2018 Australian Open – Women's Singles
Serena Williams was the defending champion, but chose not to participate this year, stating that she was not fully fit after giving birth to her daughter in September 2017.


2018 Australian Open – Women's Singles
In addition to Wozniacki and Halep, Garbiñe Muguruza, Elina Svitolina, Karolína Plíšková and Jeļena Ostapenko were also in contention for the no. 1 singles ranking at the start of the tournament.


2018 Australian Open – Women's Singles
The third round match between Halep and Davis lasted 48 games, tying Chanda Rubin and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario's 1996 quarterfinal match for the Australian Open's record for most games played in a women's match.


2018 Australian Open – Women's Singles
At 15 years and 6 months old, Marta Kostyuk became the youngest player to win a main draw match at the Australian Open since Martina Hingis in 1996 and the youngest to reach the third round at any Grand Slam event since Mirjana Lučić-Baroni at the 1997 US Open. Kostyuk was the youngest player to qualify for a Grand Slam main draw since Sesil Karatantcheva at the 2005 Australian Open.


2018 Australian Open – Women's Singles, Seeds
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.


2018 Australian Open – Women's Singles Qualifying
This article displays the qualifying draw for women's singles at the 2018 Australian Open.


2018 Australian Production Car Series
The 2018 Australian Production Car Series was an Australian motor racing competition for Group 3E Series Production Cars. It was the third Australian Production Car Series following the discontinuation of the Australian Production Car Championship at the end of 2015.


2018 Australian Production Car Series
The series was won by Jim Pollicina and Ryan Simpson  driving a Lotus Exige 350 Sport.


2018 Australian Prototype Series
The 2018 Australian Protype Series was an Australian motor racing competition for Group 2C Supersports, Group 6SR Sports Racers, FIA Group CN cars and Group 2A Sports Cars. It was contested over a five rounds series which was managed by Australian Prototype Series Pty Ltd and sanctioned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) as an Authorised Series.


2018 Australian Prototype Series
The series was won by Jason Makris  driving a Wolf GB08CN.


2018 Australian Women in Music Awards
The 2018 Australian Women in Music Awards is the inaugural Australian Women in Music Awards. The event took place on 10 October 2018.


2018 Australian Women in Music Awards
Nominations for the awards were open until 12 July 2018 and finalists were announced on 3 September 2018.


2018 Australian Women in Music Awards
Queensland Minister for Women, Di Farmer said "Women make up almost half of Australians with a music qualification and half of those studying music – yet only one-fifth of songwriters are women. Women hold only 28 per cent of senior and strategic roles in key industry associations and female artists earn less in general than their male counterparts. I congratulate the Australian Women in Music Awards committee for their work towards encouraging more girls and women in to the music industry."


2018 Australian Women's Curling Championship
The 2018 Australian Women's Curling Championship was held from June 7 to 10, 2018 at the Naseby Curling Club in Naseby, New Zealand. The winners of this championship will represent Australia at the 2018 Pacific-Asia Curling Championships.


2018 Australian Women's Curling Championship
At the same time 2018 Australian Men's Curling Championship and 2018 Australian Mixed Curling Championship were held at the Naseby Curling Club.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal
The 2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, also known as the Sandpapergate scandal, was a cricket scandal surrounding the Australian national cricket team. In March 2018, during the third Test match against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town, Cameron Bancroft was caught by television cameras trying to rough up one side of the ball with sandpaper to make it swing in flight. Captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were found to be involved and all three received unprecedented sanctions from Cricket Australia. Although he was found not to have been directly involved, Australia's coach, Darren Lehmann, announced he would step down from his role following the scandal. Smith was replaced by Tim Paine as captain in all formats before Aaron Finch took over from Paine in ODIs and T20Is.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal
Cricket Australia (CA) on 14 May 2021 said they are reopening the Sandpaper Gate investigation after Cameron Bancroft hinted that some bowlers also knew about it.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Background
In March 2018, the Australia national cricket team toured South Africa to play four Test matches against the South Africa national cricket team. On 24 March 2018, during the third day of the 3rd Test, after the 43rd over of South Africa's second innings, Australia's Cameron Bancroft was shown on the television coverage and on screens at the ground appearing to rub the ball with a small yellow object. After Bancroft realised that he had been seen, he was again shown on the television coverage and on screens at the ground hiding the object in the front of his trousers.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Background
He was then approached by the umpires, and he showed them a dark microfibre sunglass pouch from his pocket. The umpires inspected the ball, and chose neither to offer the ball to the South African team to replace it if they wished, nor award them five penalty runs, the options available to the umpires under Law 41.3 of the Laws of Cricket. This indicated that the ball had not been altered in any noticeable way.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Background
At the press conference at the end of the day's play, Bancroft, accompanied by Australia's captain, Steve Smith, admitted that he was shown attempting to alter the condition of the ball using a short length of yellow adhesive tape to which dirt and grit had adhered, forming an abrasive surface. Five days later, and after an investigation into the incident by Cricket Australia, he admitted it was sandpaper, which cricketers use to maintain their bats. Smith also admitted that he knew of the plan in advance of Bancroft's actions. Smith said that the plan was made during the lunch break by the "leadership group", which he did not name. Smith said it was a "big mistake", and when questioned by the media, said that he would not be standing down as captain of the team.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Background
Andy Pycroft, the match referee, charged Bancroft with a Level 2 offence of attempting to alter the condition of the ball. David Richardson, CEO of the International Cricket Council (ICC), charged Smith with "conduct of a serious nature that is contrary to the spirit of the game". Smith accepted the charge and the proposed sanction of two suspension points, which equated to a ban for the next Test match, four demerit points being added to his record, and was fined 100% of his match fee. Bancroft accepted the charge against him, was handed three demerit points and fined 75% of his match fee.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response
Following Smith's admission, Australia's Prime Minister at that time, Malcolm Turnbull, said it was a "shocking disappointment". He phoned Cricket Australia (CA) Board chairman David Peever directly to express that disappointment and concern, saying that there has to be the strongest action taken. The Australian Sports Commission requested that Smith stand down immediately, and the incident was widely condemned by former international players and officials.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response
In a press release dated 25 March 2018, CA CEO James Sutherland apologised to fans and confirmed that both Smith and Warner had agreed to stand down from their roles of captain and vice-captain respectively for the remainder of the match. In the same release, David Peever announced that Tim Paine, the team's wicket-keeper, had been endorsed by the Board of CA to step in as acting captain, and Smith and Warner would take to the field under him. South Africa went on to win the Test match by 322 runs.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Cricket Australia investigation
Cricket Australia launched its own investigation into the incident, led by Executive General Manager Team Performance, Pat Howard, with CA Senior Legal Counsel and Head of Integrity Iain Roy. CA CEO James Sutherland joined the investigators in South Africa. On 27 March 2018, before the findings of that investigation were handed down, opening batsman Matt Renshaw was recalled to the squad from Australia ahead of the fourth Test.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Cricket Australia investigation
On 27 March 2018, Sutherland announced that as a result of the preliminary investigation Smith, Warner and Bancroft had been charged with bringing the game into disrepute, suspended and would be sent home. He said that further sanctions against the three players would be announced within 24 hours, and that CA was satisfied that no one else was involved. He added that as well as Renshaw, opening batsman Joe Burns and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell were added to the squad to replace them, and confirmed that Paine had been appointed captain for the fourth Test. There was no announcement about the vacant vice-captain position.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Findings
During a meeting on 28 March 2018 lasting over two hours, the Cricket Australia Board considered the report. The three players were sanctioned by Cricket Australia for breaching article 2.3.5 of Cricket Australia's Code of Conduct by engaging in conduct that was contrary to the spirit of the game, unbecoming of a representative, harmful to the interests of the game, and/or which brings the game into disrepute.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Findings
Warner was found to be responsible for the development of the plan to alter the condition of the ball and instructing Bancroft on how to do it, including demonstrating the technique to him. He was also found to have failed to prevent the plan being implemented, misled match officials by concealing his knowledge of the plan and not voluntarily reporting his involvement. He received a twelve-month suspension from "all international and domestic cricket" and he "will not be considered for team leadership positions ever again."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Findings
Warner drew flak from a lot of people, many of them his own countrymen, who believed him to be the reason behind the whole scandal. In the Amazon documentary series about the scandal, The Test, Warner opened up on his struggles and road to getting the respect he lost back in the 12 month ban period he served.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Findings
Smith was found to have known of the plan but failed to take steps to prevent it, told Bancroft to conceal the sandpaper in his trousers, misled match officials and others regarding Bancroft's attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball, and made misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent and participants of the plan. He received a twelve-month suspension "from all international and domestic cricket" and he "will not be considered for team leadership positions until a minimum of 12 months after the conclusion of [his suspension] from international and domestic cricket. Any consideration of future leadership would be conditional on acceptance by fans and the public, form and authority among the playing group."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Findings
Bancroft was found to be a party to the plan to tamper with the ball, that he carried out Warner's instructions, tried to conceal the evidence and made statements to mislead match officials and the public. He received a nine-month suspension from "all international and domestic cricket" and he "will not be considered for team leadership positions until a minimum of 12 months after the conclusion of [his suspension] from international and domestic cricket. Any consideration of future leadership would be conditional on acceptance by fans and the public, form and authority among the playing group."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Findings
As well, "[a]ll three players will be permitted to play club cricket and will be encouraged to do so to maintain links with the cricket community. In addition, all three players will be required to undertake 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Findings
Ahead of the decision, Smith and Warner had stepped down as captains of the Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively in the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL). On 28 March 2018, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that neither Smith nor Warner would be able to play in the 2018 IPL.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Findings
Bancroft was contracted to play for English side Somerset in the 2018 County Championship season. On 29 March 2018, Somerset announced that "Bancroft will not be our overseas player for the 2018 season" and that "the club's best interests were at the centre of our decision". Western Australian Cricket Association CEO Christina Matthews confirmed that under their current rules Bancroft cannot play grade cricket because of his suspension. However, she added, a rule change is under consideration.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Findings
Sutherland specifically addressed repeatedly broadcast footage of coach Darren Lehmann. It showed him on a walkie-talkie to 12th man Peter Handscomb at the side of the field after the vision of Bancroft was broadcast. Hanscomb then ran onto the field to speak with Bancroft. Sutherland said that the CA investigators were satisfied that Lehmann "sent a message to say 'What in the hell is going on? '– he didn't use 'hell', he used another word", referring to an expletive and that he was not aware of the plan.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Responses from players and coach
Warner was the first to respond publicly. In a tweet dated 29 March 2018, he apologised for his part in the incident, and took responsibility for his role in it. He said that he would spend some time with his family, friends and trusted advisers, and would make another statement in the coming days. He later arrived at Sydney Airport with his wife and two young daughters, and when confronted by media, repeated that he would make a statement in the coming days, and that his priority was to get his family home.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Responses from players and coach
Bancroft arrived in Perth on 29 March 2018, and gave a press conference at the WACA. An emotional Bancroft expressed disappointment, regret and remorse, admitting that he had failed as a role model and in the eyes of the broader community, and that when confronted on the field by the umpires and media about his actions he panicked. He asked for forgiveness and said that he would be contributing back to the community.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Responses from players and coach
Smith arrived in Sydney later that day. In a press conference at Sydney Airport, a tearful Smith started by saying that he had nothing to add to Cricket Australia's report. He said that as captain of the Australian cricket team, he took full responsibility, and that he had made a serious error in judgement: "It was a failure of leadership, my leadership."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Responses from players and coach
As well as apologising to his "teammates, to fans of cricket all over the world and to all Australians who are disappointed and angry", he specifically referred to the effect that the incident had on his parents, causing him to break down, and implored others faced with questionable decisions to consider their parents. He added, "I know I will regret this for the rest of my life. I'm absolutely gutted. I hope in time I can earn back respect and forgiveness."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Responses from players and coach
Australia's coach Darren Lehmann was cleared by the investigation of any wrongdoing or involvement in the scandal, and said that he would not resign. Of the findings and sanctions, he said that he was "embarrassed" and "disappointed", adding that he hopes people will give all three players a second chance. However, on the same day that the three players returned home, Lehmann announced that he would step down from his role after the conclusion of the fourth Test in Johannesburg. He said in his statement that after watching the press conferences of Bancroft and Smith, "the feeling is that Australian cricket needs to move forward and this is the right thing to do."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Responses from players and coach
On 31 March 2018, an emotional Warner gave a press conference in Sydney. In it, he described his actions as inexcusable and deeply regrettable. He apologised for the breach of trust and his actions, accepting full responsibility for the part he played in the incident, and said that the next twelve months would be a tough and emotional time for him. His priority at this time would be the wellbeing of his family. While he hoped to play for Australia again, he was resigned for it not to happen.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Responses from players and coach
He said he would spend the coming weeks and months looking at himself "as a man", and would seek advice and expertise to make "serious changes". He supported a CA investigation into the culture of the Australian cricket side. When asked, he said that he would sit down with family, friends and advisers before deciding on his playing future. Some noted that he deflected multiple questions about whether he was the ringleader of the plan or others' involvement in it.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Disputing the charges and sanctions
In the press release announcing the findings and sanctions, Cricket Australia summarised the review process.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Disputing the charges and sanctions
"The Code of Conduct process in this instance is as follows:


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Disputing the charges and sanctions
It was reported on 31 March 2018 that Bancroft had sought legal advice and is considering his options. It was further reported on 1 April 2018 that all three had sought legal advice and are considering their actions, and importantly that while they all acknowledge erring in Cape Town, they had not formally accepted or challenged their charges or their sanctions issued by CA.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Disputing the charges and sanctions
It was also reported that Smith and Warner were expected to push for a relaxation of the sanctions, particularly to allow them to play domestic cricket in Australia and overseas. James Sutherland of CA had previously said that the legal advice they had received was that they did not have jurisdiction requiring other national cricketing bodies to enforce the sanctions. "Under the code we didn't have any clear authority over domestic matches played overseas," he said. "It was talked about but we ascertained based on the legal advice that we didn't have that clear authority.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Disputing the charges and sanctions
On 4 April 2018, Steve Smith confirmed that he would not challenge the sanctions. In a tweet, he said "I would give anything to have this behind me and be back representing my country. But I meant what I said about taking full responsibility as Captain of the team. I won't be challenging the sanctions. They've been imposed by CA to send a strong message and I have accepted them."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Disputing the charges and sanctions
Also on 4 April 2018, Cameron Bancroft announced that he had advised CA that he accepted the sanction. He tweeted "Today I lodged the paperwork with Cricket Australia and will be accepting the sanction handed down. I would love to put this behind me and will do whatever it takes to earn back the trust of the Australian public. Thank you to all those who have sent messages of support"


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Disputing the charges and sanctions
On 5 April 2018, David Warner announced that he has accepted the CA sanctions. In a tweet, he said "I have today let Cricket Australia know that I fully accept the sanctions imposed on me. I am truly sorry for my actions and will now do everything I can to be a better person, teammate and role model."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Disputing the charges and sanctions
Cricket Australia, in a press release dated 5 April 2018, confirmed that "Smith, Bancroft and Warner have officially advised Cricket Australia they have accepted the charges and sanctions, and no hearings will be required." CA CEO James Sutherland added that "These are significant penalties for professional cricketers. They were not imposed lightly. We know the players will return to playing the game they love, and in doing so, we hope they rebuild their careers and regain the trust of fans".


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Cultural review
When announcing the initial findings against Bancroft, Smith and Warner on 27 March 2018, James Sutherland announced that there would also be a deeper review of the "culture and conduct" of Australia's professional cricket teams. The terms of reference of that inquiry is to find a means by which supporters of Australian cricket and the wider community can effectively refresh their commitment to the sport.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Cultural review
Further details of the review will be forthcoming, but it will seek input from 'relevant experts', especially to determine how the culture of the Australian men's test side arrived at the point at which it has found itself. Former Australian captain, selector and CA Board member Allan Border welcomed the review, saying that "The Australian cricket team itself is not a popular cricket team, and a lot of their antics on the field have upset a lot of people."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Cultural review
On 6 April 2018, Cricket Australia chairman David Peever announced that former Test batsman Rick McCosker will chair an independent review into cultural, organisational and governance issues, and a player-driven process to set out a charter setting out standards for improved player behaviour and expectations of the Australian men's national side. He is expected to be joined by two former players and two current players on a panel, with that quartet yet to be named. That process will form part of the wide-ranging review, which will provide recommendations to the Cricket Australia board. Peter Collins, Director of the Centre for Ethical Leadership and a consultant on ethics, leadership and organisational change will act as a "facilitator" for the process. Peever added that the review will take "whatever time is necessary".


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Response, Cultural review
The chief executive of the ICC, Dave Richardson, addressed a news conference on 27 April 2018 about harsher punishments for ball-tampering and other misbehaviour.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Responses to the investigation and sanctions
Before the start of play of the fourth Test between Australia and South Africa on 30 March 2018, newly appointed Australian captain Tim Paine, with the support of his players, approached South African captain Faf du Plessis. After the national anthems were played, both teams shook hands on the field as a gesture of goodwill and respect. Paine hopes that this will become a ritual that symbolises the new direction and attitude his team is taking after the fallout from Cape Town.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Responses to the investigation and sanctions
While no one contended that the charges and findings against Bancroft, Smith and Warner were not justified, many argued that the sanctions were unprecedented, and that there were flaws in the Cricket Australia (CA) description of the incident. Some did not separate the event—an attempt at ball tampering—from the wider charge brought against the trio of bringing the game into disrepute.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Responses to the investigation and sanctions
On 29 March 2018, the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA), which represents the professional first-class cricketers of Australia, released a statement setting out "a number of glaring and clear anomalies in the process to date which causes the ACA to query the severity and proportionality of the proposed sanctions." It went on to say that "The ACA continues to provide welfare and legal support to all players" and that "All Australians would understand the right of the players to receive advice from their advisers, peers and family and the time necessary to ensure the sanctions are fair and proportional." Some see this as the ACA foreshadowing a challenge to CA over the process and sanctions.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Responses to the investigation and sanctions
Du Plessis, who was found guilty of ball tampering in 2013 and again in 2016, sent Smith a text message expressing his sympathy. He said that "he's one of the good guys and he's just been caught in a bad place". He agreed when asked if he thought that the sanctions were too harsh. He noted that the sanctions imposed by CA were far greater than those imposed by the ICC for the same incident, and may send a message to the ICC that "maybe they need to sharpen up."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Responses to the investigation and sanctions
Shane Warne, former Australian Test bowler who served a one-year ban for breaching the CA drug code in 2003, condemned the trio for engaging in "premeditated cheating", but believed that the public reaction to the incident resulted in excessive penalties being handed down by CA. English cricket commentator Mark Nicholas wrote "Clearly the captaincy had to go, and equally clearly the vice-captaincy. The punishment that has followed has been extremely severe, and I cannot help but think of Smith and Bancroft."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Responses to the investigation and sanctions
Former Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar argued that the right decision had been made to uphold the integrity of the game, adding "Winning is important but the way you win is more important." However he defended them, saying that the Australian cricketers have dealt with enough criticism. He also urged media and cricket fans to spare thoughts for their families and that they should be given some breathing space.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Responses to the investigation and sanctions
Former South African captain Herschelle Gibbs said, "Hard scenes watching the interviews. Having been through it all, take it on the chin and live with the consequences but remain true to yourself."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Responses to the investigation and sanctions
Former Australian captain and commentator Ian Chappell said that CA were right to ban Smith and Warner for twelve months, adding that he did not expect Smith would captain Australia again because he had lost the respect of the players. On the duration of the ban, he said "if they would have only given six months to them and they tried to play in Australia's next summer, the booing and crowd reaction would have been so bad. It would have been very hard for the players and it would not have been a very good situation for Cricket Australia."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Responses to the investigation and sanctions
Former England captain Michael Vaughan thought the bans too harsh, but noted that CA had sent a message to players. Former Australian batsman Tom Moody believed that the punishment did not fit the crime. Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle said that "I honestly do not believe any other country would have handed its captain and lead player a one-year ban for attempted ball-tampering." Meanwhile, former Indian batsman and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar was not surprised by the sanctions. Other cricketers came out in support of the banned players, saying that punishment was too harsh, including Harbhajan Singh, Russel Arnold, Michael Di Venuto and Adam Hollioake.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Responses to the investigation and sanctions
Gautam Gambhir, the former captain of the IPL side Delhi Daredevils commented that the sanctions imposed on Smith and Warner are quite harsh, and suspected that both may have paid for their roles in a 10-month pay dispute with CA that was resolved in August 2017. In a tweet he asked the Australian media and the public to spare thoughts for the families of the disgraced cricketers rather than mocking them. Gambhir also said that "I may be quite emotional but Smith doesn't look to me a cheat."


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Responses to the investigation and sanctions
Some criticised CA for its handling of the incident. Former Australian captain Michael Clarke believed that there was more to the incident than CA CEO James Sutherland had said, tweeting "The truth, The full story, Accountability and Leadership- until the public get this Australian cricket is in deep shit!" and that "To [sic] many reputations on the line for the full story not to come out. Cape Town change room is a very small place!" Michael Vaughan was similarly unconvinced, suggesting that Cricket Australia has only made things worse for itself by finding that only three players were involved.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Responses to the investigation and sanctions
Former England wicket-keeper Matt Prior said the official explanation didn't match up with his experiences of how teams work. Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was skeptical that other Australian players, particularly the bowlers, were not involved. Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen was unconvinced that coach Darren Lehmann did not know of the plan, while BBC broadcaster Jonathan Agnew believed that there were contradictions in the official narrative.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Commercial fallout
From the outset, many of Cricket Australia's commercial sponsors and partners, including 2018 South African tour naming rights sponsor Qantas, Twenty20 naming rights sponsor Sanitarium, One Day International and Big Bash League naming rights sponsor KFC, domestic Test match naming rights sponsor Magellan Financial Group, Lion XXXX, the Commonwealth Bank, and Bupa expressed their disappointment and shock over the incident. Many demanded a comprehensive explanation from CA, and demanded that they take steps to protect the long term reputation of the sport they had invested in.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Commercial fallout
On 29 March 2018, Magellan Financial Group terminated its three-year naming rights sponsorship agreement with CA in response to the ball-tampering scandal. The contract had two more seasons to run, and was estimated to be worth AU$20 million.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Commercial fallout
The incident came as CA was negotiating television broadcast rights to all forms of the game for the next six seasons, estimated at one point to be valued at greater than AU$900 million. Bidding has not been as high as CA expected, and some expect that the ball tampering incident may further affect those negotiations.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Commercial fallout, Player contracts
On 28 March, Smith and Warner were banned from the 2018 edition of the IPL. Both the players were going to make A$2.4 million.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Commercial fallout, Player contracts
On 11 April 2018, Cricket Australia announced the list of 20 players who have been awarded national contracts for 2018–19. Bancroft, Smith and Warner were not on that list, and they were not mentioned in the media release.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Commercial fallout, Player contracts
In April 2018, Surrey head coach and former Australian cricketer Michael Di Venuto stated that his county would be willing to sign either Smith or Warner during their ban from international cricket.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Commercial fallout, Individual sponsorships
The LG Electronics company in Australia announced that they had chosen not to renew their personal sponsorship of Warner on 27 March 2018, citing "recent events". Warner had been in a commercial arrangement with LG since 2014. That arrangement was in its final weeks and was being considered for renewal at the time of his suspension. As well as this incident, his behaviour came under the spotlight during the first Test of the tour after the dismissal of South African batsman AB de Villiers.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Commercial fallout, Individual sponsorships
He was then involved in a highly publicised personal and escalating verbal altercation with South African batsman Quinton de Kock as they were leaving the field. Warner's teammates intervened to separate them. Both were charged by the match referee and penalised. Earlier in this Test, Warner was involved in a heated exchange with a spectator after being dismissed in Australia's first innings. The spectator was ejected from the ground.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Commercial fallout, Individual sponsorships
On 29 March 2018, sporting apparel company ASICS terminated their commercial arrangements with Warner and Bancroft. The Commonwealth Bank terminated their brand ambassador arrangement with Smith, as did Sanitarium for whom Smith was an ambassador for their Weet-Bix product.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Return to cricket
Bancroft was the first of three banned players to return to Australian professional cricket. On 30 December 2018, he represented the Perth Scorchers in the 2018–19 Big Bash League season. In the match he scored two runs from three balls, with the Hobart Hurricanes going on to win the game by six wickets.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Return to cricket
The bans on Smith and Warner ended on 29 March 2019, coinciding with the date of the fourth One Day International (ODI) match of Australia's series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, however neither made their international return until the first match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup. The trio made their returns to the Test arena at Edgbaston on 1 August in the first Test of the 2019 Ashes series, with Smith’s scores of 144 and 142 earning him the man of the match award as Australia beat England by 251 runs.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Return to cricket
In February 2020, Smith and Warner were named in Australia's limited overs squads for their tour to South Africa. They both played in the opening Twenty20 International (T20I) match of the tour, the first time they had represented Australia in South Africa since their bans.


2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, Documentary
A docu-series The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team based on the 2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal was streamed on Amazon Prime Video on 11 March 2020 with 8 episodes.


2018 Australian federal budget
The 2018 Australian federal budget was the federal budget to fund government services and operations for the 2018–19 financial year. The budget was presented to the House of Representatives by Treasurer Scott Morrison on 8 May 2018. It was the fifth budget to be handed down by the Liberal/National Coalition since their election to government at the 2013 federal election, and the third and final budget to be handed down by Morrison and the Turnbull Government.


2018 Australian federal budget, Background
In mid-April, Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack described Treasurer Scott Morrison as "Santa Claus" in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, also hinting that there would be spending on transport infrastructure. Morrison stated that the $5 billion Melbourne Airport rail link would be part of this budget. There has been an increase in revenue recently due to stronger than expected commodity prices and an increase in employment. This budget has been described as effectively a pre-election budget for the 2019 federal election. Polling prior to the budget revealed that the public thought the most important issues for the government to address were the cost of living and improving health infrastructure. Student newspapers were not invited to the 2018 budget lockup.


2018 Australian federal budget, Forecasting
A Deloitte Access report issued in April 2018 found that total revenue was $7.6 billion more than had been forecast in December 2017.


2018 Australian federal budget, Income taxes
The budget proposes to introduce a Low and Middle Income Tax Offset (LMITO) of $530, from July 2018. This offset will not be reflected in adjustments to PAYG rates, which would translate to a PAYG cut of about $10 a week for low to middle income earners, but will be applied when the tax returns are lodged. The LMITO will not be a refundable offset. From July 2022, the 32.5% tax bracket is to raise from $37,000 to $41,000. From July 2024, the 37% tax bracket (which currently applies to incomes between $87,000 and $180,000) is to be abolished, and the 32.5% tax bracket is to apply to incomes between $41,000 and $200,000.


2018 Australian federal budget, Income taxes
The 0.5% increase in the Medicare levy from 1 July 2019, announced in the 2017 budget, has been abandoned, and the funding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme of $8 billion is now to be funded out of general revenue.


2018 Australian federal budget, Income taxes
The Government still wants to reduce the corporate income tax rate from 30% to 25% for all companies by 2026/27. From 1 July 2019, businesses with a turnover of less than $50 million will get a 2.5% tax break to 27.5%.


2018 Australian federal budget, Social welfare
The Social Welfare Debt Recovery scheme (dubbed robo-debt by the media) will be extended for another three years, until 2022, and is expected to recover $300 million from current and former Centrelink customers. The Commonwealth will seek the power to automatically deduct state fines from welfare payments. The rules for suspending the disability support pension for prisoners and people awaiting trial will be changed from allowing a suspension period of 2 years to allowing a suspension period of 13 weeks.


2018 Australian federal budget, Social welfare
There is to be no increase in the Newstart Allowance, and the Department of Human Services was targeted with further 1,200 job cuts.


2018 Australian federal budget, Social welfare
Spending on social security was $6.3b less than forecast in this budget.


2018 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Aged care
Home care packages will be increased by 14,000 places. It has been noted that this measure will not meet demand in the sector.


2018 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Agriculture
Sea imports will be subject to a levy to help the government identify and respond to biosecurity threats. The macadamia levy has been increased to raise funds to combat the Varroa jacobsoni mite in Queensland, and the mushroom and honey levies have been decreased.


2018 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Arts
The funding freeze of the ABC will be continued, and SBS will be funded with an additional $14.6 million. $50 million will be allocated to the construction of a Captain Cook memorial at Kurnell commemorating the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook's landing.


2018 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, ASIC
ASIC was given $11 million in the budget to cover the costs of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, but lost $28 million of funding and 30 staff.


2018 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Cash transactions
A limit of $10,000 will be imposed on cash transactions to counter the black economy. While amnesties were recommended by a parliamentary committee, these were not adopted by the government.


2018 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Illicit tobacco
A four-year program targeting illicit tobacco is expected to be announced, with import permits required from 1 July 2019 for all imports of tobacco except those purchased duty free.


2018 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Infrastructure
There will be an infrastructure spend of $24.5 billion in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.


2018 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, National School Chaplaincy Programme
The National School Chaplaincy Programme has been extended for four years with funding of $247 million.


2018 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Additional medicines will be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, for the treatment of breast cancer, refractory multiple myeloma, and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Additionally, pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV/AIDS will be added to the PBS.


2018 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Self-managed superannuation auditing
The requirement for self-managed superannuation to be audited annually has been relaxed to allow auditing to occur once every three years.


2018 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Space agency
$50 million will be allocated to the creation of a space agency.


2018 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Superannuation consolidation
Fund exit fees are to be banned. The Australian Tax Office will be given powers to consolidate superannuation from a person's inactive accounts, sending it to their active account. Superannuation accounts that have had no contributions for over 13 months and that have a balance of under $6,000 will be subject to this scheme from 1 July 2019.


2018 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Women's Budget
An analysis of how the budget measures will affect women has concluded that the taper effect will create a disincentive to work. A statement on women's economic security will be unveiled by Kelly O'Dwyer in spring 2018.


2018 Australian federal budget, Debt and deficit
The Budget deficit for 2017/18 is expected to be $18.2 billion, falling to $14.5 billion in 2018/19. The Budget is expected to return to a surplus of $2.2 billion in 2019/20, and increasing to $16.6 billion in 2021/22.


2018 Australian federal budget, Debt and deficit
The government's debt level is forecast to be $629 billion in 2019/20.


2018 Australian federal budget, Opposition and crossbench response
Upfront fees for up to 100,000 TAFE students will be scrapped.


2018 Australian federal budget, Opposition and crossbench response
The Greens party has stated that they will refuse to pass the tax cuts advocated by either major party, describing them as a "bribe".


2018 Australian federal budget, Reception
In response to an anticipated tax cut, the hashtag #keepmytendollars trended on social media.


2018 Australian federal budget, Reception
Some people have criticized the New tax System with Australians earning between $41,000 and $200,000 paying the same tax as moving away from a progressive taxation system. Labor has asked for the potential costs from scrapping the 37% tax bracket, but Morrison has declined to release the cost modelling.


2018 Australian federal budget, Reception
Analysis of the budget and budget reply by Australian National University researchers shows that neither proposed budget adequately addresses bracket creep.


2018 Australian federal budget, Reception
This budget marks the fifth consecutive year that Australia's foreign aid budget has been cut.


2018 Australian federal budget, Reception
The second stage of the Coalition's company tax cuts for big business was rejected by the Senate on 22 August 2018.


2018 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2018 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix was the seventeenth round of the 2018 MotoGP season. It was held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Phillip Island on 28 October 2018.


2018 Australian rockmelon listeriosis outbreak
The 2018 Australian rockmelon listeriosis outbreak was an outbreak of Listeriosis, caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, later traced to rockmelon (also known as cantaloupe) grown by Rombola Family Farms in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia.


2018 Australian rockmelon listeriosis outbreak
The outbreak killed six people and infected a further 16 in Australia and infected two more in Singapore, who had consumed rockmelon imported from Australia.


2018 Australian rockmelon listeriosis outbreak, Outbreak
The NSW Food Authority began investigating a link between an outbreak of Listeriosis and the consumption of rockmelon in January 2018. NSW Health first issued a public warning on 28 February. This prompted the Australian Melon Association to warn consumers to either dispose of, or return the place of purchase, any rockmelons purchased prior to 28 February.


2018 Australian rockmelon listeriosis outbreak, Outbreak
The outbreak was ultimately determined to be due to duststorm conditions in the area.


2018 Australian strawberry contamination
In a food safety crisis beginning in September 2018, numerous punnets of strawberries grown in Queensland and Western Australia were found to be contaminated with needles. Queensland Police reported that by November 2018, there had been 186 reports of contamination nationally.


2018 Australian strawberry contamination, Contamination
On 9 September 2018, several days prior to any official announcement of contamination, a Facebook user posted a warning about Berry Obsession strawberries purchased from Woolworths Strathpine Centre in Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane. The user reported that his friend had swallowed part of a needle and was in the emergency department at hospital. A second victim had called Woolworths on 11 September. The affected strawberries were not withdrawn and the contamination first publicly reported until 12 September. In the following days, dozens of contaminated punnets of strawberries grown in Queensland and Western Australia were discovered in NSW, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.