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Adelaide Writers' Week Canceled Amid Author Disinvitation Controversy, Board Resignations, and Legal Actions

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Adelaide Writers' Week 2026 Controversy and National Developments

Adelaide Writers' Week (AWW) 2026 was canceled following the Adelaide Festival board's decision to disinvite Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah. This decision prompted widespread withdrawals from authors and sponsors, numerous board resignations, and the resignation of the Writers' Week director. The controversy also led to legal action threats against South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and sparked debates at other Australian literary festivals. Amid these events, Australia also contended with extensive bushfires and heatwave conditions, a constitutional challenge to Victorian police powers, and a debate on federal hate speech legislation.

Adelaide Writers' Week Controversy

Background and Initial Disinvitation

Randa Abdel-Fattah, a Palestinian Australian academic, author, and lawyer, was scheduled to discuss her novel Discipline at Adelaide Writers' Week 2026. On January 8, the Adelaide Festival board announced the withdrawal of her invitation. The board cited "cultural sensitivity" following an incident, referred to by some sources as a December shooting at a Jewish festival in Bondi Beach, and "unprecedented time so soon after Bondi."

The board stated the decision was based on her "past statements" and clarified that it did not suggest any connection between Abdel-Fattah or her writings and the Bondi incident.

Abdel-Fattah has faced prior criticism for statements on Israel, including allegations that Zionists "had no claim or right to cultural safety." A 2024 social media post from Abdel-Fattah referred to "the end of this murderous Zionist colony," which she later clarified opposed Zionist ideology, not the unsafety of Jewish people. She also posted an image of a person parachuting with a Palestinian flag after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, stating she was unaware of the attacks' severity at the time and viewed the image symbolically.

Premier's Involvement and Prior Criticisms

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas conveyed his opinion to the board, stating he did not support Abdel-Fattah's inclusion. His concerns reportedly dated back to September. On January 2, he sent a letter to the board strongly advising against her inclusion, stating it was "not in the public interest" and referencing her statements on Zionism. He reserved the right to make public statements on his position and stated that failing to remove her would be contrary to the board's responsibilities. Premier Malinauskas's letter referenced "the Bondi terror attack" and cited Abdel-Fattah's social media posts.

The Premier also referenced a 2024 incident where Jewish New York Times columnist Thomas L Friedman did not participate in AWW. Premier Malinauskas initially stated the board had removed Friedman under similar circumstances, supporting a "consistent application of this principle." However, the board had rejected a petition from Abdel-Fattah and nine other academics to rescind Friedman's invitation, citing a commitment to "artistic freedom of expression," and later stated Friedman's non-participation was due to "last-minute scheduling issues."

Former Adelaide Festival board member Tony Berg, who resigned in October 2023, accused AWW director Louise Adler and Abdel-Fattah of hypocrisy, claiming they advocated for Friedman's removal. Both Adler and Abdel-Fattah denied this: Abdel-Fattah differentiated Friedman's article, which compared Middle East conflict to the animal kingdom, from her own cancellation based on her identity. Adler cited board confidentiality.

The Jewish Community Council of South Australia confirmed it had lobbied the Adelaide Festival board for Abdel-Fattah's removal.

Impact and Resignations

Following Abdel-Fattah's disinvitation, the festival experienced significant fallout:

  • Over 180 authors, including Jacinda Ardern, Zadie Smith, Helen Garner, Michelle de Kretser, Melissa Lucashenko, Evelyn Araluen, Trent Dalton, Jane Caro, Peter FitzSimons, Peter Greste, and Yanis Varoufakis, withdrew from the event.
  • The Australia Institute and Mischief Brew withdrew their sponsorships for the 2026 event. Writers SA, a peak organization for writing and literature in South Australia, also withdrew.
  • Three board members—Daniela Ritorto, Donny Walford, and Nicholas Linke—resigned. Board chair Tracey Whiting also resigned. These departures raised questions about the board's ability to achieve a quorum, which requires a minimum of two men and two women under the Adelaide Festival Corporation Act 1998.
  • Louise Adler, the director of Writers' Week, resigned, stating she would not "be party to silencing writers" and emphasizing the importance of engaging with challenging ideas. She also noted a decrease in artists' influence on arts boards and an increase in commercial sector representation.
  • The Writers' Week website was temporarily updated to reflect changes due to author withdrawals and social media comments were temporarily disabled.

Festival Cancellation and Subsequent Actions

Amid the mass resignations and withdrawals, the Adelaide Festival Corporation canceled the 2026 Writers' Week event. Executive Director Julian Hobba stated he had advised the board against removing Abdel-Fattah, warning of potential negative consequences.

A new Adelaide Festival board was subsequently announced, chaired by Judy Potter and including Rob Brookman, Jane Doyle, and John Irving. The new board issued an apology to Randa Abdel-Fattah "for how the decision was represented," retracted the previous statement, and acknowledged that the corporation "fell well short" in upholding intellectual and artistic freedom. The new board extended an invitation for Abdel-Fattah to participate in the 2027 Adelaide Writers' Week. Abdel-Fattah accepted the apology and stated she would consider the 2027 invitation at an appropriate time. The new board also apologized to Louise Adler and rescinded a previous decision to establish a board subcommittee to review AWW operational decisions.

Premier Malinauskas stated that the new board's decision regarding Abdel-Fattah was "their call to make" and affirmed his position as being "informed by the principles I believe in which is facilitating lots of different points of view and seeking to be inclusive."

Legal Developments

Randa Abdel-Fattah indicated she might pursue legal action against South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, accusing him of making "defamatory" remarks about her. A concerns notice was issued under the Defamation Act. Abdel-Fattah's lawyer, Michael Bradley, described the Premier's letter to the board as "coercive" and suggested it implicitly linked her to the Bondi incident. Premier Malinauskas stated he was unaware if a concerns notice had been received and maintained his remarks were public record.

Related Literary Events

Alternative Adelaide Event: Constellations

Following the cancellation of Adelaide Writers' Week, an alternative literary event named "Constellations: Not Writers' Week" was launched by local booksellers, publishers, and authors in Adelaide. Randa Abdel-Fattah participated in a discussion with Louise Adler at this event, stating that journalists "muted" and "censored" Palestinian people regarding the Gaza conflict. Other participants included authors Ali Cobby Eckermann, Melissa Lucashenko, and Chelsea Watego, as well as Nobel Prize winner J. M. Coetzee and economist Yanis Varoufakis.

Adelaide University Event Cancellation

An event featuring UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, scheduled as part of "Constellations," was abruptly canceled by Adelaide University. The event, titled "Settler Colonialism: What it can tell us about the conflict in Israel/Palestine," was relocated from the university's Elder Hall to the Norwood Concert Hall. The university stated the booking "did not go through the required review and approval process," and it could not provide necessary support or ensure safety and quality.

The event's organizers, the Association for the Promotion of International Law (APIL), disputed these claims, stating they had followed proper procedures for weeks.

The cancellation followed a report suggesting that providing a platform for Albanese could be seen as defying US sanctions. Albanese has publicly called for an end to what she describes as "genocide" against Palestinians, and the Trump administration previously placed her on a US Treasury sanctions list, accusing her of "lawfare" and "unabashed antisemitism." The relocation incurred costs exceeding $12,000 for organizers.

Newcastle and Sydney Writers' Festivals

The controversy extended to other Australian literary events.

  • Newcastle Writers Festival: The NSW government engaged with the festival board regarding Randa Abdel-Fattah's inclusion. NSW Premier Chris Minns stated his disagreement with her invitation, calling it "crazy" due to potential divisiveness, but affirmed he would not intervene. Arts Minister John Graham stated the government's priority is social cohesion and ensuring Jewish arts and culture lovers feel welcome. Festival director Rosemarie Milsom confirmed Abdel-Fattah was invited in August and denied government pressure, emphasizing the festival's commitment to freedom of expression.
  • Sydney Writers' Festival (SWF): KPMG, previously listed as a corporate partner, requested its name be removed from the SWF website, stating it is an auditor. The firm acknowledged receiving calls expressing concern about Abdel-Fattah's scheduled participation. SWF confirmed Abdel-Fattah would participate in two sessions, with chief executive Brooke Webb and artistic director Ann Mossop emphasizing the festival's commitment to "freedom of expression" and not engaging in "cancelling or censoring writers." Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, interpreted her inclusion as a "deliberate provocation."

National Developments

Australian Bushfires and Heatwave

Australia experienced widespread bushfires across Victoria and New South Wales, alongside significant heatwave conditions.

  • Victoria: Three individuals reported missing after a house fire were located safely. One man in his 60s died near a fire ground, though his death was not directly linked to the fires. Evacuation orders were issued for communities in the Otway region, and other areas were advised to take shelter. Sixty-seven fires were burning, with 10 out of control, the largest being the Longwood fire (over 140,000 hectares). The Ravenswood South grass fire destroyed approximately 50 homes in Harcourt. Concerns were raised regarding funding for emergency services and telecommunications issues.
  • New South Wales: A fire at Goombargana spread across 1,020 hectares of farmland before containment, driven by temperatures in the 40s Celsius and strong westerly winds.
  • Heatwave: An extreme heatwave warning was in effect for metropolitan Sydney, the Illawarra, and south-eastern NSW, with temperatures reaching 39.8C in Sydney CBD and 41.5C in Penrith.
  • Financial Assistance: The Australian Banking Association announced special arrangements for Victorian customers affected by the bushfires, including deferrals for repayments and fee waivers.

Debate on Federal Hate Speech Legislation

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) urged Opposition Leader Sussan Ley to reconsider the Coalition's opposition to the government's proposed hate speech laws. ECAJ co-chief executive Peter Wertheim stated that the bill's failure would be a "retrograde step" and highlighted positive aspects, such as a new regime to proscribe extremist hate organizations. He encouraged amendments rather than outright rejection and emphasized the urgency of legislative reform following what he described as the "antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi."

Victorian Police Powers Under Challenge

A constitutional challenge was filed in federal court against Victoria Police's four-month declaration of Melbourne’s CBD as a designated area. This legal action, brought by three activists, questions the legality of powers allowing police to stop and search individuals without a warrant and requiring the removal of face-coverings. Arguments presented in court focused on the implied freedom of political communication versus the intent to conceal identity for potential criminal acts. Counsel for the plaintiffs argued the declaration was "invalid," while counsel for the Victorian government asserted the burden on political communication was "indirect" and not "significant."