Minister pressed library leaders twice before sinking award ceremony
Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek unsuccessfully pressed State Library leaders on two occasions before issuing a direction that led to the last-minute cancellation of a First Nations author's award ceremony in May.
The previously unknown detail of a meeting between Langbroek, the library chief executive and board chair one week prior comes as the library launches a promised review into its award processes.
The review's terms of reference say it will aim to 'strike a balance between the priorities and expectations of the Minister' and the role of the library as a publicly funded entity.
Why it matters
The library flagged the review in May, after Langbroek intervened to stop one of two black&write! fellowships going to Adelaide-based author K.A. Ren Wyld, whom he accused in parliament of 'glorifying terrorism'.
One day before their presentation, Langbroek made a formal direction that the $15,000 award should not be given to Wyld in a state-owned venue due to a social media post praising slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar – flagged with him by his department, and now deleted.
Langbroek's directive, which followed the May 12 meeting and a May 16 follow-up letter, led to the library cancelling Wyld's contract only after she flew to Brisbane and hours before the federally funded program's ceremony was set to begin.
The decision sparked the resignations of several Queensland literary award judges in protest. It was praised by the state's peak Jewish body, and came amid a national debate about antisemitism and free speech.
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