MAYHEM: A look back at the year in politics

It was another absolutely bizarre year in the world of politics, with Canberra becoming an absolute shambles.

(L-R) Australian Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and former Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton leave after a vote to refer former Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to the High Court in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, August 23, 2018. Picture: LUKAS COCH

IT WAS another absolutely bizarre year in the world of politics, with Canberra becoming an absolute shambles.

The disastrous scenes of the leadership spill in August have not been forgotten by voters and the Coalition continues to slump in the polls, leaving Bill Shorten poised to become Prime Minister in 2019.

Here's a look at some of the major moments in politics across the country in 2018.

JANUARY:

USUALLY a slower time of year than most for politics, the Sunshine Coast Council pushed on in January, with some major progress on one of the region's new major centres.

The council approved the next stage of the Palmview masterplan on January 25, which adjoins the edge of the Harmony estate.

The stage approved for the 149ha parcel of land will deliver 1100 homes and 60ha of parklands.

Same sex couples were recognised officially with the changing of marriage laws.

The council also joined the Cities Power Partnership, a network of 70 local councils which have pledged to achieve five key actions across renewable energy, efficiency, transport and working together.

Federally, university funding was frozen at 2017 levels for the next two years from January and schools reverted to the Gonski 2.0 funding model.

Same-sex couples were able to legalise their unions from January 9, after the historic legislation was passed in December last year.

FEBRUARY:

SCANDALS rocked Canberra in February, as details of then-Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce's extramarital affair came to light.

Mr Joyce fathered a child with his former media adviser and current partner Vikki Campion.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and his pregnant partner Vikki Campion pictured at Canberra airport. Picture: Kym Smith

Tabloids splashed with details of Mr Joyce's affair only months after the New England MP had won the by-election of his seat, triggered by a High Court ruling that he be disqualified from sitting as he was a dual citizen.

By late-February Mr Joyce fell on his sword and resigned as Deputy Prime Minister, to be replaced by Michael McCormack.

Locally, the Sunshine Coast Council announced a new campaign targeting the drive market in South-East Queensland while it also held a public workshop on the controversial topic of verge parking.

The banking Royal Commission also kicked off in February.

MARCH:

AFTER 16 years of Labor rule South Australians voted for change, electing the Liberals and premier Steven Marshall to power.

News broke that embattled Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton had reportedly used his ministerial powers to intervene in the case of two foreign au pairs and grant them temporary visas to avoid deportation.

FIGHTING: Fairfax MP Ted O'Brien and rail advocate Jeff Addison are pushing for fast rail on the Coast. The North Coast Connect consortium received backing to progress the business case. Picture: Scott Sawyer

Meanwhile the North Coast Connect Consortium was boosted by the news its fast rail proposal would proceed to the business case development stage.

APRIL:

COAST athletes departed for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast after a number of international teams enjoyed pre-Games training camps in the region.

Former Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce and new partner Vikki Campion welcomed their new baby son.

The banking Royal Commission revealed plenty of problems within the system.

Former AMP boss Craig Meller becomes the first major casualty of the banking Royal Commission, resigning after a two-day grilling over fees for no service incidents.

All governments agree to ensure all Australian packaging is recyclable or reusable by 2025.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson lashes out at certain State and Federal MPs who, in local media, had suggest the council had plans for a casino in the new Maroochydore CBD.

Cr Jamieson said there was no casino licence available for the region and the suggestion of the plans was simply misleading the public.

RTI documents released later in the year would reveal the extent of lobbying undertaken by council executives seeking a casino licence for the region.

MAY:

CARDINAL George Pell was committed to stand trial over historical child sex offences, while Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson became the world's most senior Catholic official charged with covering up child sexual abuse.

Australian Cardinal George Pell speaks to members of the media, at the Vatican, 29 June 2017. Cardinal Pell, 76, Australia's most senior Catholic, was charged on 29 June 2017, with multiple counts of historical sexual assault offences, but denied any wrongdoing. Picture: MASSIMO PERCOSSI

Archbishop Wilson was found guilty by a NSW court but appealed his conviction.

State Health Minister Dr Steven Miles announced the detailed business case for an $86 million redevelopment of the Nambour General Hospital.

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services Steven Miles arrives at the Nambour General Hospital to annouce a funding increase. Picture: Warren Lynam

The council endorsed changes to its procurement procedures to try and engage more with local suppliers and obtain lower costs.

JUNE:

THE Federal Government settled Australia's largest ever human right class action with $70 million in compensation paid to former Manus Island detainees.

TRAPPED: Manus Island detainees received a major payout. Picture: Contributed

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull claimed a win after the Senate approved budget measures to cut taxes progressively over the next seven years.

The State Government announced it would officially apologise to Palm Islanders for violence and discrimination they were subject to during the 2004 riots.

In late-June the council made a major announcement in the new Maroochydore CBD with local developers Evans Long unveiling plans to develop a commercial office building.

JULY:

SUNSHINE Coast Council announced controversial plans to redevelop the Brisbane Rd Carpark were back to square one after Abacus Investments Pty Ltd withdrew from the tender process.

Nationally, the Turnbull Government was in its death throes.

Labor candidate for Longman Susan Lamb and Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten claim victory in the seat of Longman after the byelection. Picture: MICK TSIKAS

After trailing in more than 30 consecutive Newspolls, the Turnbull Government faced judgment in five by-elections around the nation.

In Longman, the Coalition secured just 30 per cent of the primary vote.

A dramatic weekend which signalled only a fraction of the drama to come.

AUGUST:

THE leadership circus of Canberra continued in August, as the Coalition suspended Parliament to settle internal warfare which had overtaken the Federal Government.

Peter Dutton led the first leadership coup, which was seen off by Malcolm Turnbull, but the 48-35 party room result was a mortal wound.

Prime Minister elect Scott Morrison and Deputy leader of the Liberal party Josh Frydenberg leave after a Liberal party room meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, Friday, August 24, 2018. Malcolm Turnbull vacated the leadership position after a second spill motion was instigated. Picture: LUKAS COCH

A second spill was called and Scott Morrison emerged as victor, ending Turnbull's three-year reign.

Mr Turnbull announced his resignation from Parliament, triggering a Wentworth by-election and plunging the government's wafer-thin majority into peril.

SEPTEMBER:

WITH a Wentworth by-election looming and a perceived slump in the nation's status in Asia-Pacific thanks to the leadership instability, attention turned to the homefront as the strawberry sabotage scandal erupted.

SPIKED: Angela Stevenson found this needle embedded in a strawberry she bought from Woolworths Kirkwood. Picture: Facebook: Angela Stevenson

New Prime Minister Scott Morrison introduced new laws to dissuade copycats increasing the maximum jail term for food saboteurs from 10 to 15 years in jail.

A new offence of recklessly contaminating fruit was also to be introduced, as the scandal wiped out millions of dollars worth of fruit from embattled growers.

OCTOBER:

QUEENSLAND woman were hailing a piece of major progress passing State Parliament in October.

In mid-October State MPs voted to remove abortion from the Queensland Criminal Code.

The legislation passed via a conscience vote, with support from LNP MPs Tim Nicholls, Jann Stuckey and Steve Minnikin.

People are seen attending the March together for Choice rally in Brisbane ahead of proposed changes to Queensland's abortion laws in Brisbane, Sunday, October 14, 2018. Picture: Glenn Hunt

The new legislation allows abortion on request up to 22 weeks and introduced safe zones of 150m around abortion clinics.

Abortions after 22 weeks can still be undertaken with consent from two doctors.

Meanwhile in the local council chambers a war of words erupted between Mayor Mark Jamieson and long-time hinterland councillor Greg Rogerson.

Cr Rogerson called for a vote of no confidence in the Mayor during an explosive public meeting, claiming the Mayor had failed to declare a conflict of interest in relation to the council's plans to establish a new City Hall in the Maroochydore CBD.

Independent candidate for Wentworth Kerryn Phelps ended over a century of Liberal dominance in the Sydney seat of Wentworth, forcing Scott Morrison into minority government. Picture: CHRIS PAVLICH

In Federal politics, the Coalition suffered a massive blow, as it lost its majority with Independent Dr Kerryn Phelps elected to replace outgoing former PM Malcolm Turnbull as Wentworth's representative.

Dr Phelps jumped out to an unassailable lead over Liberal candidate Dave Sharma, which left new PM Scott Morrison's majority in tatters.

NOVEMBER:

NSW Labor was rocked by sexual misconduct allegations levelled against leader Luke Foley.

On the cusp of what looked a likely win for Labor Mr Foley was forced to resign, claiming he couldn't fight to win an election and clear his name at the same time.

He has since withdrawn his intention to sue for defamation.

Luke Foley stepped down after a sexual harassment scandal. Picture: Marc Stapelberg

Scott Morrison also laid out his plans to deliver an early budget on April 2 next year, meaning Australians would head to the polls by May 18, 2019, in what many are tipping will be an election full of bloodshed for the Coalition.

DECEMBER:

THE Morrison Government ended a turbulent year facing a once-in-90-year defeat on a vote on the floor of Parliament.

Instead, the government chose to effectively shut down early to avoid the embarrassment.

Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten appeared all but certain to sweep to power in 2019 when Australians will head to the polls. Picture: AAP/MICK TSIKAS

Heavy criticism was launched at the encryption bill passed on the final sitting day, as the government employed strong delaying tactics to avoid a vote on the migration bill it was destined to lose.

Both major parties were criticised, Labor for allowing the flawed encryption bills to pass and the government for its preparedness to leave encryption laws unpassed if it had to, despite its insistence on their importance, just to avoid a showdown over medical evacuations of Nauru refugees.