Evelyn Araluen Wins Top Victorian Literary Honors for "The Rot" Amidst Festival Controversies
Evelyn Araluen has been awarded the $100,000 Victorian Prize for Literature and the $25,000 Victorian Premier's Prize for Indigenous Writing for her second poetry collection, "The Rot." The announcement was made as part of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards.
The awards also saw Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah receive the People's Choice Award for her novel "Discipline." Abdel-Fattah's recognition comes amidst ongoing public discussions and controversies surrounding freedom of expression in the arts, particularly concerning her scheduled appearances at literary festivals.
Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Overview
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, which have been presented since 1985, recognized multiple authors across various categories. This year, nearly 700 entries were considered for the awards.
Key recipients include:
- Victorian Prize for Literature and Indigenous Writing Prize: Evelyn Araluen for "The Rot"
- People’s Choice Award: Randa Abdel-Fattah for "Discipline"
- Fiction: Omar Musa for "Fierceland"
- Non-fiction: Micaela Sahhar for "Find Me at the Jaffa Gate: An Encyclopaedia of a Palestinian Family"
- Poetry: Eunice Andrada for "KONTRA"
- Drama: Emilie Collyer for "Super"
- Children’s Literature: Zeno Sworder for "Once I Was a Giant"
- John Marsden Prize for Writing for Young Adults: Margot McGovern for "This Stays Between Us"
- Unpublished Manuscript: Charlotte Guest for "The Kookaburra"
Evelyn Araluen's Recognition for "The Rot"
Evelyn Araluen, a Goorie and Koori poet, received the top literary honor for "The Rot." This follows her 2022 Stella Prize win for her debut collection, "Dropbear." Araluen described experiencing burnout after her first collection and initially did not plan to write poetry again. "The Rot" was written over several months last year.
The collection explores themes of political urgency and the current social climate. Araluen stated that the book examines multiple meanings of 'rot,' including challenges related to housing, internet link rot, personal grief following the death of community Elders, and perceived moral corruption linked to government investments in weapons manufacturers and private prisons.
Judges characterized "The Rot" as "formally inventive and ethically rigorous," a "work of remarkable poetic intelligence," and a "vital intervention in this country’s cultural conversation."
Araluen cited an incident at Adelaide Writers' Week in 2024 as a catalyst for continuing the collection, where a reading from "The Rot" provoked an audience reaction after she referred to Israel’s actions in Gaza as a genocide. She noted encountering both opposition and support during the event. Araluen also described the book as an "ode to girlhood," addressing gender and institutionalized violence under colonialism and capitalism.
She plans to donate a portion of her prize money to Sisters Inside, an Aboriginal-led organization supporting incarcerated women, and to organizations providing relief in Gaza.
Following her Stella Prize win, Araluen had discussed experiencing financial difficulties. She has since taken a full-time academic position, which she stated allowed her "the safety to be able to write more." She has called on the Australian government to reform the taxation of arts prizes, noting that some awards, like state premier literary awards, are taxed as income, in contrast to tax-free awards like the prime minister’s literary awards. She indicated that the Stella Prize was taxed at nearly 50%.
Randa Abdel-Fattah's Award and Festival Controversies
Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah received the $2,000 People's Choice award for her 2025 novel "Discipline," determined by public vote between December 10 and January 18. In her acceptance speech, Abdel-Fattah referenced the cancellation of Adelaide Writers’ Week and the influence of the South Australian Premier. She characterized the award as a "rejection by readers of the ongoing assault" on the arts and a "victory against certain Premiers."
Adelaide Writers' Week and Defamation Proceedings
Abdel-Fattah had been scheduled to discuss "Discipline" at Adelaide Writers' Week. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas stated he provided his opinion to the Adelaide Festival board regarding Abdel-Fattah's participation but denied directing them to cancel her or being involved in the festival’s cancellation. He later reiterated his strong opposition to Abdel-Fattah’s views being presented in Adelaide.
The festival was subsequently canceled after her removal from the program on January 8, leading to a writer boycott and board resignations. Abdel-Fattah later received an apology from the new board and an invitation to attend Adelaide Writers’ Week in 2027, though the 2026 literary festival could not be salvaged. She is scheduled to appear in Adelaide at a sold-out venue.
Malinauskas’ comments regarding Abdel-Fattah’s appearance prompted her to issue two concerns notices for defamation against the Premier. In February, Malinauskas stated he stood by his comments and was not concerned about defamation proceedings affecting South Australia’s March election, asserting he acted based on his view of what was "right for the state and civility and respect of one another."
Broader Impact and Reactions
Abdel-Fattah also referenced NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns, who had questioned her inclusion in the Newcastle Writers’ Festival. She thanked her publisher, Aviva Tuffield at the University of Queensland Press, which reportedly faced pressure regarding the publication of "Discipline," noting that other authors, including First Nations poet Jazz Money and SA-based Martu author K.A. Ren Wyld, were experiencing similar pressure.
Australian musician Nick Cave commented on the situation at Adelaide Writers’ Week, describing its cancellation as an "almost cosmic display of stupidity" due to "cowardice, performative outrage, self-righteous posturing, cancellations, counter-cancellations, mob trots and general narcissistic silliness."
Former Writers’ Week Director Louise Adler, who resigned from the festival, described the controversy as a "canary in the coalmine" for free speech.
Abdel-Fattah is scheduled to appear at a special event in Adelaide this weekend in conversation with Ms. Adler.