The Australian mainland and Tasmania are situated in the middle of the tectonic plate , and currently have no active volcanoes , but due to passing over the East Australia hotspot , recent volcanism has occurred during the Holocene , in the Newer Volcanics Province of western Victoria and southeastern South Australia . Volcanism also occurs in the island of New Guinea ( considered geologically as part of the Australian continent ) , and in the Australian external territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands . Seismic activity in the Australian mainland and Tasmania is also low , with the greatest number of fatalities having occurred in the 1989 Newcastle earthquake
1989 Newcastle earthquake
1989 Newcastle earthquake
Australia