Key Takeaways:
- The Adelaide Writers’ Week (AWW) has been cancelled due to controversy surrounding the removal of Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from the program.
- More than 180 authors withdrew from the event in protest, leading to the cancellation.
- The festival’s executive director, Julian Hobba, had advised the board not to remove Abdel-Fattah from the program, warning of a potential "wildfire" of controversy.
- Former festival board member Tony Berg resigned last year due to concerns about the direction of the literary event and the leadership of former director Louise Adler.
- The fallout has been extensive, with Abdel-Fattah threatening legal action and a new board being appointed.
Introduction to the Controversy
The Adelaide Writers’ Week (AWW) has been embroiled in controversy following the removal of Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from the program. The decision led to a mass exodus of authors, with over 180 writers withdrawing from the event, and ultimately resulted in the cancellation of AWW. The festival’s executive director, Julian Hobba, has spoken out about the controversy, stating that he had advised the board not to remove Abdel-Fattah from the program, warning of a potential "wildfire" of controversy.
The Board’s Decision and Its Aftermath
Hobba’s comments came after the board announced that it had excluded Abdel-Fattah from the line-up, citing concerns about her views on Israel. However, Hobba stated that he had advised the board to "take a different course of action" and "to not rescind" Abdel-Fattah’s invitation. Despite his warnings, the board ultimately decided to remove Abdel-Fattah from the program, leading to widespread criticism and backlash from the literary community. The fallout has been extensive, with many authors expressing their support for Abdel-Fattah and criticizing the board’s decision.
Former Board Member Speaks Out
Former festival board member Tony Berg has also spoken out about the controversy, stating that he resigned from the board last year due to concerns about the direction of the literary event and the leadership of former director Louise Adler. Berg cited concerns about the board’s decision to dis-invite New York Times journalist Thomas Friedman in 2024, as well as the appointment of Abdel-Fattah to the program. He stated that he supports free speech, but believes that it should be presented in a respectful dialogue, and that the people who are criticizing the board’s decision to remove Abdel-Fattah are hypocritical in their support for freedom of speech.
Author Threatens Defamation Proceedings
Abdel-Fattah has threatened defamation proceedings against South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, who publicly commented on her scheduled appearance at AWW. Malinauskas stated that civil debate and discourse should be encouraged, but that there is a distinction between that and people seeking to deny others the ability to express their view. Abdel-Fattah rejected Malinauskas’ comments, stating that she had been subjected to a campaign of vilification and intimidation.
The Future of Adelaide Writers’ Week
The cancellation of AWW has raised questions about the future of the event. Hobba stated that there is a need to "reset the stumps" for a future event, with a greater emphasis on the values that have made it great for so long. However, the extent of the damage to the event’s reputation remains to be seen. The appointment of a new board and the resignation of former director Louise Adler may be a step towards healing the wounds, but it will likely take time and effort to restore the event to its former glory.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding the removal of Randa Abdel-Fattah from the Adelaide Writers’ Week program has highlighted the challenges of navigating complex issues of free speech, diversity, and inclusion. The fallout from the event’s cancellation will likely be felt for some time, and it remains to be seen how the event will recover from this setback. However, one thing is clear: the literary community will be watching closely to see how the event is rebuilt and whether it will be able to regain its reputation as a celebration of diversity and free speech.