SBS looks back at Australia's year

It was a year that for many in Australia, started in the same way as much of the year before - in lockdown. A vaccine rollout, despite its delays, brought some much needed optimism, before the arrival of Delta. Australia went through another turbulent year in 2021, but it has emerged and reopened to the world.

2021 - a year of lockdowns in Austrlian communities. Source: AAP

The new year was ushered in by the Prime Minister, changing a word in our national anthem in an attempt to reflect those more than 300 unique language groups.

Just as the wording was changed to 'we are one and free', January 26 reminded us that many in Australia think there is still a long way to go in reconciliation with our First Nations peoples.

There was an all-female lineup recognised at the Australian of the Year Awards.

The honour for 2021 went to 26-year-old Grace Tame, an advocate for victims of sexual assault.

February saw the first Australian vaccinated against COVID-19, instilling a sense of confidence and hope of an end to the pandemic which had spanned over a year.

But following reports of side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe, a snap press conference was called in early April, only a few weeks into Australia's vaccine rollout.

Away from the fight against COVID-19, SBS News uncovered allegations of serious crimes including sexual assault, committed by US military personnel in Australia.

Then in July, the Delta variant of COVID-19 forced Greater Sydney and eventually the whole of New South Wales into lockdown.

That anger boiled over in Sydney's CBD, where thousands broke stay-at-home orders to protest.

People also took to the streets in Melbourne after the government shut the construction industry down for a fortnight.

October brought the bombshell announcement from Gladys Berejiklian that she would be resigning as premier of New South Wales, as the state's Independent Commission Against Corruption investigated her affair with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire.

New premier Dominic Perrottet wasted no time in reopening the state, followed by Victorian premier Daniel Andrews.

And to round out the year, some much-needed good news out of Western Australia.

Four-year-old Cleo Smith was found alive and well by police, 18 days after she went missing from a remote campsite near Carnarvon.

 

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