In a striking turn of events, the Premier of South Australia has publicly denied any allegations that he pressured the Adelaide festival’s board to uninvite Randa Abdel-Fattah from participating in Adelaide Writers’ Week. Despite this denial, he has reiterated his agreement with the board's controversial decision.
On Thursday, the festival board made the decision to remove the Palestinian-Australian academic, citing concerns about "cultural sensitivity" in light of the recent Bondi attack. Peter Malinauskas, the Premier, stated, "Legally, I am not allowed to instruct the Board, and I respect this legislation. I've consistently communicated that I would not interfere with the board's decisions. However, when my opinion was requested, I expressed that the state government did not back Dr. Abdel-Fattah’s participation in the Adelaide Writers' Week program."
The situation escalated over the weekend when a group of eleven influential cultural figures sent a letter to both Malinauskas and the festival board, urging them to reconsider their stance and reinstate Abdel-Fattah as a speaker. This letter was orchestrated by Rob Brookman, who has served in various key leadership roles at the festival for nearly thirty years, including positions as artistic director and executive director. The ten co-signers of the letter, all of whom have held senior artistic or administrative roles within the festival, include notable names like Neil Armfield, Jo Dyer, Jim Sharman, and Anthony Steel.
The letter boldly described the decision to cancel Abdel-Fattah’s participation as a significant error, suggesting it tarnished the reputation of both the festival and Writers’ Week. It asserted, "While an about-face may be uncomfortable, it is undoubtedly the right course of action to stem the growing damage to this beloved and internationally recognized cultural institution in South Australia. By rescinding [Abdel-Fattah’s] invitation, one appallingly implies that her presence is somehow linked to the abhorrent events of the Bondi massacre. Wickedness flourishes in obscurity, and prejudice festers in ignorance that silence breeds. Open dialogue concerning ideas, beliefs, facts, and opinions is crucial for fostering community unity; censorship is not the answer."
Moreover, the letter raised concerns regarding the board's apparent withdrawal of support for Louise Adler, the director of Adelaide Writers’ Week, who is set to lead her fourth festival from February 28 to March 4. In 2023, Adler had previously defended the inclusion of several Palestinian speakers, two of whom came under fire for making contentious remarks before the festival. During the opening night of that same year, Malinauskas revealed he faced immense pressure to withdraw funding from the Writers’ Week, but he resisted, fearing that it would set a dangerous precedent where politicians dictate who gets to speak. He questioned, "What kind of future does that create? It leads us down a path where politicians determine what is culturally acceptable... a route that resembles the oppressive atmosphere of Putin’s Russia."
The letter concluded with a strong assertion: "The festival board has historically been commendable in its backing of the director's choices amidst vocal opposition. The current reversal of its principled support for the director and her programming contradicts the very essence of what the festival and Writers’ Week stand for and should continue to uphold." The festival board and Adler were reached out to for further comments on this unfolding situation.
