Sydney-born Palestinian writer Randa Abdel-Fattah has initiated legal action against South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, launching defamation proceedings following her removal from the Adelaide Writers’ Week lineup.
In a statement posted to social media on Wednesday, Abdel-Fattah said her lawyers had issued a concerns notice under the Defamation Act to the Premier, marking the first step in potential litigation.
“We have never met, and he has never attempted to contact me,” Abdel-Fattah said. “He knows nothing about me, beyond what he has been told by the Murdoch press and the pro-Israel lobby, which he has apparently accepted without question.”
“Enough is enough. I am a human being, not a punching bag. My lawyers have today issued a concerns notice under the Defamation Act on Premier Malinauskas. This is his opportunity to undo some of the harm he has inflicted, and stop punching down,” she added.
The legal action comes in the wake of Abdel-Fattah’s abrupt removal from the Adelaide Writers’ Week program by the Adelaide Festival board on January 8, a decision that has sparked widespread backlash across Australia’s literary and arts communities.
Abdel-Fattah’s lawyers have also written to former Adelaide Festival board chair Tracey Whiting, seeking documentation related to the board’s decision. Their correspondence requests that all records—including emails, text messages, and content on disappearing messaging apps—be retained, as they may be required for legal proceedings.
“Please ensure that your organisation and each individual member of the board retains all documents in their possession that relate to the decision to exclude Dr Abdel-Fattah,” the letter states. “You are each now on notice that these documents may be required for the purposes of litigation.”
The dispute has centred on comments Malinauskas reportedly made to the former Adelaide Festival board—of which all members but one have now resigned—expressing his view that Abdel-Fattah should be removed from the February lineup.
Malinauskas has consistently denied any political interference in the board’s decision. “I have never intervened or directed the board, and nor should I. In fact, as a matter of law, I can’t,” he said, defending his position.
The fallout from Abdel-Fattah’s removal escalated sharply earlier this week. On Tuesday, the Adelaide Festival board announced the cancellation of Writers’ Week, after more than 180 writers withdrew from the event in solidarity with Abdel-Fattah.
The decision prompted the resignation of festival director Louise Adler, highlighting the extent of the controversy within the festival organisation. The mass withdrawal and subsequent cancellations have ignited national debates around artistic freedom, political influence in cultural events, and the treatment of Palestinian voices in Australia.
South Australian Greens leader Robert Simms has since called on the state government to step in with an arts support package, following the high-profile cancellation. “The arts sector is under immense pressure. The government must provide urgent support to ensure artists, writers, and cultural institutions can continue to operate without undue interference,” Simms said.
Abdel-Fattah, an acclaimed author known for her work on cultural identity, human rights, and the Palestinian cause, has long been a prominent figure in Australian literature. Her removal from Writers’ Week has drawn criticism from across the literary and academic communities, many of whom see the incident as emblematic of broader attempts to silence dissenting voices.
As legal proceedings begin, the case is expected to test the boundaries of defamation law in Australia, particularly in relation to public figures and the influence of political opinion on cultural institutions.
For now, Abdel-Fattah remains firm in her stance. “This is about more than me. It’s about holding people accountable when they wield power to damage others unfairly,” she said.
The unfolding dispute continues to dominate national conversations around freedom of expression, political accountability, and the independence of arts institutions. With legal action now formally underway, attention is turning to whether Malinauskas or the former festival board will seek to resolve the matter before it reaches court.
