Australia is experiencing widespread bushfires and extreme heatwave conditions across Victoria and New South Wales. Simultaneously, the Adelaide Festival's Writers' Week has been canceled following a significant controversy over the disinvitation of Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah, leading to mass withdrawals by participants, multiple board resignations, and a subsequent apology and re-invitation by a newly appointed board.
Bushfire and Heatwave Conditions
Widespread bushfires are active across Victoria and New South Wales, exacerbated by an extreme heatwave.
Victorian Bushfires
In Victoria, 67 fires are burning, with 10 remaining uncontrolled. The Longwood fire is the largest, having consumed over 140,000 hectares, prompting emergency warnings for areas including Caveat and Strathbogie. The Ravenswood South grass fire destroyed approximately 50 homes in Harcourt and remains at a 'Watch and Act' level, as do fires at Mt Mercer, Mt Darling, Streatham, and Boinka.
Three individuals previously reported missing after a house was destroyed in a Victorian bushfire were safely located. Victoria's Premier, Jacinta Allan, confirmed this, while also noting the death of a man in his 60s near a fire ground, though his death was not directly linked to the fires. Evacuation orders were issued for communities in the Otway region, including Cape Otway, Maits Rest, and Great Otway National Park north of Carlisle River. Other communities like Carlisle River, Chapple Vale, and Lavers Hill received immediate shelter advice.
New South Wales Fires and Heatwave
In New South Wales, a fire at Goombargana, near the Victorian border, spread across 1,020 hectares of farmland before being contained. The NSW Rural Fire Service reported difficult conditions, with temperatures in the 40s Celsius and strong westerly winds contributing to rapid fire spread.
An extreme heatwave warning was issued for metropolitan Sydney, the Illawarra, and south-eastern NSW regions, with temperatures reaching 39.8C in Sydney CBD and 41.5C in Penrith. A severe heatwave warning covered other parts of NSW. Despite these conditions, over a dozen bushfires that ignited across NSW were brought under control or were being controlled.
Assistance Measures
The Australian Banking Association announced that banks are implementing special arrangements to assist Victorian customers affected by the bushfires. These measures include potential deferrals of credit card and loan repayments, emergency credit limit increases, loan restructuring, fee waivers, and additional finance options.
Adelaide Writers' Week Controversy
The Adelaide Writers' Week, part of the broader Adelaide Festival, faced extensive disruption and ultimate cancellation following the disinvitation of Palestinian-Australian academic Randa Abdel-Fattah from its 2026 program.
Disinvitation and Stated Rationale
On January 8, the Adelaide Festival board announced the withdrawal of an invitation to Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah. The board cited "cultural sensitivity" following a December shooting at Bondi, while clarifying that it did not suggest any connection between Dr. Abdel-Fattah or her writings and the Bondi tragedy. The decision was based on her "past statements" and the view that her programming "would not be culturally sensitive... at this unprecedented time so soon after Bondi." Previously, Dr. Abdel-Fattah had faced criticism for statements about Israel, including an allegation that Zionists "had no claim or right to cultural safety." The Jewish Community Council of South Australia had lobbied the board for her removal.
Author's Response and Legal Action
Dr. Abdel-Fattah described her exclusion as "blatant and shameless anti-Palestinian racism and censorship," an "egregious and unabashed anti-Palestinian" act, and an "obscene attempt to associate me with an atrocity." She rejected allegations of hypocrisy for having called for the removal of Jewish writer Thomas L Friedman in 2024, stating Friedman's article compared Arab and Muslim groups to "insects and vermin," a trope she found concerning. She contrasted this with her own cancellation, which she stated was due to her "presence and identity as a Palestinian" being deemed "culturally insensitive" and linked to the Bondi incident.
Dr. Abdel-Fattah's legal firm, Marque, wrote to board chair Tracey Whiting, demanding a specific list of her "past statements" that informed the board's decision and requesting retention of all relevant documents for potential litigation. Dr. Abdel-Fattah later initiated defamation proceedings against South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, stating he made "defamatory" remarks about her, despite never having met or communicated with him.
Fallout: Withdrawals and Resignations
The disinvitation triggered widespread backlash, leading to significant withdrawals and resignations:
- Participant Withdrawals: Initially dozens, then over 70, and ultimately more than 180 writers withdrew from the festival. Notable figures included Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper, Sarah Krasnostein, Michelle de Kretser, Melissa Lucashenko, Evelyn Araluen, Trent Dalton, David Marr, Jonathan Green, Jane Caro, Peter FitzSimons, Peter Greste, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and British author Zadie Smith.
- Sponsorship Withdrawal: The public policy think tank The Australia Institute withdrew its sponsorship for the 2026 event.
- Board Resignations: Four of the eight board members—Daniela Ritorto, Donny Walford, Nicholas Linke, and chair Tracey Whiting—resigned. Subsequently, all remaining board members, except one, also stepped down.
- Writers' Week Director Resignation: Louise Adler, the director of Writers' Week, who had initially invited Dr. Abdel-Fattah, resigned. Adler stated she would not "be party to silencing writers" and emphasized the importance of engaging with challenging ideas. She expressed that the board's decision was made "despite my strongest opposition."
The festival's website temporarily removed its list of participants and events due to the withdrawals, and social media comments were disabled.
Political Involvement and Opinions
- South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas: Premier Malinauskas publicly supported the board's decision, stating he had conveyed his opinion to the board that the state government did not support Dr. Abdel-Fattah's inclusion. He reiterated his support for the board's decision to remove Abdel-Fattah from the 2026 program, and earlier noted that the Adelaide Festival had previously made a similar decision to remove a Jewish writer, Thomas L Friedman, from the 2024 program under comparable circumstances, supporting the consistent application of this principle. He denied any direct role in the board's decision or threatening funding withdrawal, stating he is legally prevented from directing the board.
- Federal Ministers: Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King supported the decision, expressing surprise Abdel-Fattah was initially invited. Arts Minister Tony Burke stated that decisions regarding festival participants are matters for the festivals themselves. Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam supported the board's decision, while Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young criticized it, suggesting "political interference."
- Other Views: Former NSW premier Bob Carr supported the board's decision, stating some of Abdel-Fattah's previous statements were counterproductive to the Palestinian cause. Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis tore up his invitation, claiming the festival was "destroyed" by the "Zionist lobby."
Thomas L Friedman Controversy
The Premier's comparison referred to journalist Thomas L Friedman, whom he stated the board had removed from the 2024 program. This was disputed by the Adelaide Festival board itself, which, in a February 9, 2024 letter, rejected a petition from Dr. Abdel-Fattah and nine other academics to rescind Friedman's invitation. The board stated it had an "international reputation for supporting artistic freedom of expression." However, Friedman ultimately did not participate in the 2024 program, with the board citing "last-minute scheduling issues" for his non-attendance. Friedman later acknowledged that some readers and colleagues felt insulted by his column comparing the Middle East conflict to the animal kingdom, and stated he used the wrong metaphor if it alienated part of his audience.
Tony Berg, a former Adelaide Festival board member, accused outgoing director Louise Adler of hypocrisy, alleging Adler threatened to resign in 2024 if the board did not withdraw an invitation to Thomas Friedman, which he claims resulted in Friedman's withdrawal. Adler stated that board discussions are confidential.
Festival Cancellation, Apology, and New Board
Julian Hobba, the Adelaide Festival's executive director, stated he had advised the board against removing Abdel-Fattah, anticipating widespread negative consequences. The Adelaide Festival board issued a statement apologizing to Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah "for how the decision was represented," expressing regret for distress caused and clarifying the decision was not about identity or dissent but shifts in national discourse. Dr. Abdel-Fattah publicly rejected the apology, stating it focused on conveyance rather than the decision itself.
Following the mass resignations and withdrawals, the 2026 Adelaide Writers' Week was canceled. The South Australian government announced a new festival board, to be led by its immediate past chair, Judy Potter. The new board includes prominent arts executive Rob Brookman, former newsreader Jane Doyle, and business and arts figure John Irving.
The new Adelaide Festival Corporation issued a second apology to Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah, extending an invitation for her to participate in the 2027 Adelaide Writers' Week. The corporation stated it "fell well short" in upholding intellectual and artistic freedom and unreservedly apologized for the harm caused. Dr. Abdel-Fattah accepted the apology and stated she would consider the 2027 invitation. The new board also apologized to Louise Adler, acknowledging her principled resignation, and rescinded the previous decision to establish a board subcommittee to review Writers' Week operations.
The Adelaide Festival, which includes the now-canceled Writers' Week, is scheduled to run from February 27 to March 15. The new board has committed to ensuring the delivery of the broader Adelaide Festival.