The director of one of Australia’s leading writers’ events resigned on Tuesday, January 13, following the festival board’s decision to cancel an appearance by Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah, sparking a wave of boycotts from prominent participants.
Louise Adler, the Writers’ Week director, stepped down in protest, citing what she described as the “extreme and repressive efforts of pro-Israel lobbyists” that influenced the board’s decision. In an open letter published by The Guardian, Adler criticized the rationale given for the cancellation, which she said invoked the concept of “safety” as a cover for silencing dissenting voices.
“The arts have allegedly become ‘unsafe’ and artists are a danger to the community’s psycho-social wellbeing,” Adler wrote. “But let’s be clear, the routine invocation of ‘safety’ is code for ‘I don’t want to hear your opinion’. In this instance, it appears to apply only to a Palestinian invitee.”
The controversy erupted last week when the Adelaide Festival, Australia’s premier annual cultural event, informed Abdel-Fattah that it did not “wish to proceed” with her scheduled appearance. According to Adler, the decision was made despite her “strongest opposition” and has ignited a major backlash from the arts community.
Abdel-Fattah, an acclaimed author and academic, has previously drawn criticism over statements she made online. In October 2024, she posted on X (formerly Twitter): “The goal is decolonisation and the end of this murderous Zionist colony.” Festival organizers have said her comments contributed to concerns over public safety, particularly in the wake of a December 14 mass shooting at a Jewish festival on Bondi Beach that claimed 15 lives.
“The board was shocked and saddened by the Bondi Beach tragedy, and our decision regarding Abdel-Fattah was not taken lightly,” a festival spokesperson said.
However, Abdel-Fattah rejected the board’s reasoning, labeling the exclusion a “blatant and shameless act of anti-Palestinian racism” and a “despicable attempt to associate me with the Bondi massacre.” She called the decision an attempt to unfairly stigmatize her political and cultural views.
The dispute has prompted a significant wave of withdrawals from the festival. On Monday, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced she would no longer participate, joining around 180 other artists and contributors who have pulled out in protest. Festival organizers have said these withdrawals have caused major disruption to the event’s programming.
The incident highlights growing tensions in Australia’s cultural sector, where debates over free expression, political activism, and community sensitivity increasingly intersect. Critics argue that excluding artists over their political views risks undermining artistic freedom and silencing marginalized voices, while supporters of the decision emphasize concerns about public safety and community harm.
Adler, a respected figure in Australia’s literary circles, warned that the festival’s actions could set a worrying precedent. “When political pressure dictates who can speak, it diminishes the integrity of the arts and erodes public trust,” she wrote in her resignation letter.
The Adelaide Festival, which annually attracts artists from across the globe, now faces questions over its handling of controversial content and its commitment to inclusivity. Observers say the fallout may influence how future Australian cultural events navigate the complex balance between free speech, political pressures, and public safety considerations.
As the festival approaches, the debate surrounding Abdel-Fattah’s exclusion continues to dominate headlines, raising broader concerns about the intersection of politics and the arts in contemporary Australia.
