Queensland's history - 2000s

2010 and 2011

• The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visit Brisbane for 1 day on Monday 24 October 2011.
• Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi crosses the Queensland coast at about midnight on Wednesday 2 February 2011, leaving many families homeless.
• Significant flooding occurs in many areas of Queensland during late December 2010 and early January 2011, with 75% of the state declared a disaster zone.

2009

• Queensland celebrates its 150th anniversary with a statewide program of special events and celebrations.
• Queensland wins the State of Origin against NSW 4 years in a row—a record winning streak.
• Anna Bligh wins the 2009 state election (the first woman in Australia to do so).

2008

• Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce becomes the first female Australian Governor-General.
• The global financial crisis hits.

2007

• Anna Bligh is sworn in as Queensland's first female Premier in 2007 after Peter Beattie resigns.
• Nambour-born Kevin Rudd becomes the first Queenslander to become Australian Prime Minister since Francis Forde, who ruled for a few days in 1945.

2006

• Cyclone Larry hits North Queensland. A huge recovery effort follows with the support of governments and individuals from across Australia.

2005

• Queenslander Ian Frazer and his team announce successful trials of a vaccine for cervical cancer—the first in the world. From 2007, the vaccine (called Gardasil) is given free to many Australian school girls and young women.
• Queensland population hits 4 million.