investigating electoral rorts. February 10 February – In Western Australia, the Liberal/National coalition government of Richard Court is voted out and replaced by the Australian Labor Party (ALP), led by Geoff Gallop. 27 February – The Labor government of Peter Beattie is comfortably re-elected for a second term in Queensland, despite a scandal that broke out weeks before the election that involved breaches of the Electoral Act by several MPs, including the Deputy Premier. March 1 March – West Australian Premier Geoff Gallop ends all old growth logging in the state. 2 March – Victorian Premier Steve Bracks pleads for Transurban to drop its $36 million compensation claim against the State. 16 March – HIH Insurance goes into provisional liquidation, but claims it can cover all household and third party policies. 17 March – Labor candidate Leonie Short wins the Ryan by-election in Queensland, defeating Liberal candidate, Bob Tucker. April 8 April – Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock refers to the Curtin Immigration Reception and Processing Centre rioters as "publicity seekers". May 7 May – Queensland Premier Peter Beattie orders a dingo cull on Fraser Island after 9-year-old Clinton Gage is mauled to death by a dingo on 30 April. 21 May – The Federal Government announces a commission into the HIH insurance disaster with $500 million allocated to victims. 24 May – Former HIH Insurance director, Rodney Adler fights an attempt to freeze his assets. June 7 June – Prime Minister John Howard rejects the suggestion by the new Anglican Archbishop of Sydney that he is out of step with God regarding his views on reconciliation. 10 June – Seven detainees of Middle Eastern origin escape from the Woomera Detention Centre, South Australia, on the same day that Australian and international media are allowed to tour the Curtin Immigration Reception and Processing Centre in Western Australia. 21 June – Prime Minister John Howard rejects renewed Opposition demands to sack Aged Care Minister Bronwyn Bishop following the painful death of an elderly woman in aged care. 27 June – The New South Wales Government agrees to support South Australia's bid to build an electricity riverlink interconnector between the two states, giving access to cheaper power from the east. 29 June – Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane Dr Peter Hollingworth is sworn in as Governor-General of Australia. He would later resign amidst controversy over his handling of child sex cases during his time