1975. 19 October - An employee of Air India’s Melbourne office is stabbed by a man who left a threatening letter, allegedly from the Ananda Marga-affiliated Universal Proutist Revolutionary Federation. Cabinet decides to review the management of explosives by Commonwealth agencies and to provide 203 more Commonwealth police for diplomatic security work, while foreign missions in Australia are urged to upgrade their security. 27 October - Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser announces that the election will be held on 10 December. November 12 November – A state election is held in Queensland, with the Liberal Party of Australia-National coalition led by Joh Bjelke-Petersen gaining their fourth successive victory. 18 November - Phillip Lynch resigns as Federal Treasurer 30 November – The High Court of Australia rules in the case of Cridland v Federal Commissioner of Taxation that a group of university students avoiding tax by claiming to be farmers were acting legally under provisions of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. December 1 December – Bill Neilson resigns as Premier of Tasmania, and is replaced by Doug Lowe. 8 December - Sir Zelman Cowen replaced Sir John Kerr as Governor-General of Australia. 10 December – 1977 Australian federal election: Malcolm Fraser's Liberal/National Country Coalition Government is re-elected with a slightly reduced majority, defeating the Labor Party led by former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. 22 December - Bill Hayden and Lionel Bowen replaced Whitlam and Uren in the ALP leadership. Science and technology Arts and literature Kevin Connor wins the Archibald Prize with Robert Klippel Ruth Park's novel Swords and Crowns and Rings wins the Miles Franklin Award Film The Getting of Wisdom Television 3 April - When Countdown celebrated 100 episodes, Ian "Molly" Meldrum felt tired and emotional. Regulars Daryl Braithwaite & John Paul Young both fill in for Meldrum for the last remainder of the show. Popular soap operas Bellbird, Number 96, and The Box, are all cancelled. Television soap operas The Restless Years and Cop Shop begin. November - On Countdown, Ian "Molly" Meldrum interviews His Royal Highness Prince Charles. Sport 12 March – The Centenary Test commences between England and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 20 March – Australia is represented by nine long-distance runners (all men), including Robert de Castella, at the fifth IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Düsseldorf, West Germany. Steve Austin is Australia's best finisher, claiming the 15th spot (38:26.0) in the race