Queensland literary awards under review after fellowship withdrawn from First Nations writer

Sydney Morning Herald

27-05-2025

The Queensland State Library has confirmed the black&write! fellowships will continue next year, after a First Nations author had a fellowship withdrawn over a social media post.
Author Karen Wyld, who writes under the name K A Ren Wyld, made and then deleted a social media post on X, describing slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a 'martyr' following his death in October last year.
She was due to receive a $15,000 black&write! fellowship for Indigenous writers at a ceremony on May 20.
However, the fellowship was revoked after Queensland Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek wrote to the library's board on May 16 and again on May 19 to express his concerns.
A library spokesperson said the decision to withdraw the fellowship was unrelated to Wyld's manuscript, which focused on the stolen generations and received 'high praise for its literary merit from the panel of expert judges'.
When asked if it had been withdrawn at the request of the Queensland government, the spokesperson said the decision was made after Langbroek told parliament on May 20 he had 'taken the decision that this award should not be presented' at the state library.
Langbroek said there was no place in libraries, music awards or in publicly funded venues for the 'glorification of terrorism', describing the post as 'deeply offensive'.
'This government will always defend freedom of speech including the arts, but that freedom does not extend to celebrating murder and violence, nor does it absolve individuals from the consequences of eroding public confidence or support,' he said.
'Whilst I support the principles of free expression and creative diversity, any perception that taxpayer-funded awards [are] being granted to individuals who justify terrorism undermines public trust, both in our institutions and in the cultural section sector more broadly,' he added.