Key Takeaways
- The Adelaide Festival is facing a leadership crisis after three board members resigned over the decision to dump Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from the 2026 writers’ week program.
- The board’s decision has sparked widespread criticism, with over 70 participants withdrawing from the festival and Abdel-Fattah accusing the board of "blatant and shameless" anti-Palestinian racism and censorship.
- The board’s ability to make decisions for the 2026 event is uncertain due to the resignations and the need to adhere to strict gender composition rules.
- The board has been given until January 14 to respond to a request for information about the decision to axe Abdel-Fattah, with possible litigation pending.
Introduction to the Crisis
The Adelaide Festival is facing an unprecedented leadership crisis after three board members resigned over the decision to dump Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from the 2026 writers’ week program. The resignations of journalist Daniela Ritorto, Adelaide businesswoman Donny Walford, and lawyer Nick Linke have left the board struggling to reach a quorum, potentially paralyzing its legal authority to make decisions for the 2026 event. The crisis has sparked widespread criticism, with over 70 participants withdrawing from the festival and Abdel-Fattah accusing the board of "blatant and shameless" anti-Palestinian racism and censorship.
The Board’s Decision
The board’s decision to axe Abdel-Fattah from the program was made after the tragic events at Bondi, which the board claimed had "shocked and saddened" them and led to a "significant heightening of both community tensions and the community debate". The board stated that it did not suggest that Abdel-Fattah or her writings had any connection with the tragedy at Bondi, but that her past statements had informed their decision to cancel her appearance. However, Abdel-Fattah has denied any connection to the tragedy and has accused the board of attempting to associate her with the Bondi massacre, which she described as "despicable".
The Aftermath
The board’s decision has sparked widespread outrage, with many criticizing the board’s handling of the situation. Within hours of the board’s announcement, Abdel-Fattah issued her own statement, accusing the festival board of "blatant and shameless" anti-Palestinian racism and censorship. The Sydney legal firm Marque, acting on behalf of Abdel-Fattah, has written to the festival board chair, Tracey Whiting, demanding that she provide each and every statement made by Abdel-Fattah that had played a part in the board’s decision to axe her from the 2026 program. The board has been given until January 14 to respond, along with a request to Whiting and her diminished board to retain all documents relating to the matter, for the purposes of possible litigation.
The Board’s Response
The board has made no public comment since announcing the cancellation of Abdel-Fattah, and it remains unclear how the board will respond to the request for information. The board’s ability to make decisions for the 2026 event is uncertain due to the resignations and the need to adhere to strict gender composition rules. Under the Adelaide Festival Corporation Act 1998, the board must have a minimum of two men and two women, but with Linke’s departure, only one man, Adelaide airport’s managing director, Brenton Cox, remains. The board’s failure to respond to the request for information and its handling of the situation has sparked widespread criticism, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability.
The Wider Implications
The crisis has also raised questions about the board’s handling of similar situations in the past. On Sunday, Guardian Australia revealed that the board had resisted attempts to remove a pro-Israel columnist, Thomas Friedman, from the 2024 writers’ week program after he published a controversial column comparing the Middle East conflict to the animal kingdom. The board’s decision to axe Abdel-Fattah while allowing Friedman to participate has sparked accusations of double standards and hypocrisy. The crisis has also highlighted the need for greater diversity and representation on the board, with many calling for a more inclusive and diverse range of voices to be represented.
Conclusion
The Adelaide Festival is facing a major crisis, with the board’s decision to axe Randa Abdel-Fattah from the 2026 writers’ week program sparking widespread outrage and criticism. The board’s handling of the situation has been widely criticized, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability. The crisis has also raised questions about the board’s handling of similar situations in the past and the need for greater diversity and representation on the board. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the board will respond to the request for information and whether it will be able to recover from the damage that has been done.