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Economic Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Bendigo Writers Festival: Around 50 participants withdraw over free speech concerns around Israel-Gaza war; event spokesperson reacts
Around 50 writers and moderators have withdrawn from the Bendigo Writers Festival in central Victoria. (Photo: Bendigo Writers Festival website) Around 50 writers and moderators have withdrawn from the Bendigo Writers Festival in central Victoria, which began on August 15, 2025 (Friday), over concerns about free speech pertaining to the Israel-Gaza war, according to ABC News. The three-day festival will end on August 17, 2025 (Sunday). The cancellations include the festival's opening night and author Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah, First Nations poet Dr. Evelyn Araluen, and Wiradjuri writer and poet Jeanine Leane were among the first to withdraw from the festival over the code, reported The Guardian. According to festival spokesperson Julie Amos, organizers were processing refunds for ticket holders after 15 sessions across the three-day event were cancelled because writers pulled out. The flurry of withdrawals from the writers' festival came due to the festival's code of conduct, which mentions broad issues like respect and inclusivity but urges attendees to discuss "sensitive topics" with "balance and respect," according to media reports. According to the code, 'La Trobe Presents' panels and speakers must comply with the principles espoused in La Trobe University's anti-racism plan, including the plan's definitions of antisemitism. The list of withdrawals updated by the group Readers and Writers against Genocide includes names like Thomas Mayo, Jock Serong, Jess Hill, and Kirstin Ferguson, The Guardian reported. The plan stated that "criticism of the policies and practices of the Israeli government or state is not in and of itself antisemitic," according to ABC News. "However, criticism of Israel can be antisemitic when it is grounded in harmful tropes, stereotypes, or assumptions and when it calls for the elimination of the State of Israel or all Jews or when it holds Jewish individuals or communities responsible for Israel's actions," the plan added. Speaking on the code of conduct, Amos said that it was not brought in to censor free speech; rather, it was intended as a set of guidelines to "facilitate respectful conversations" about global political issues."It's no secret that we are living in an incredibly risk-averse environment at the moment," she said, as quoted by ABC News. "We encourage discussions about these issues. We're not trying to shut them down. We just want to make sure those really, really important conversations happen in a safe way," she further stated.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Writers withdraw from Bendigo Writers Festival over censorship concerns
A number of writers have withdrawn from the Bendigo Writers Festival in central Victoria over concerns about censorship of discussions relating the Israel-Gaza war. Indigenous writer Evelyn Araluen is among the guests of the three-day event, which begins today, who have criticised the festival's code of conduct. "I shall not be in Bendigo for the writers festival this weekend. I refuse to sign on to a code of conduct prohibiting critique of Israel and Zionism," she said. A spokesperson for Ms Araluen said the festival's code of conduct "directly infringes on Evelyn's freedom of speech, her academic speech, her cultural duty as a First Nations woman and her obligation as someone with a large platform to speak out against oppression, which includes speaking out against Israel's ongoing UN-defined genocide of the Palestinian people". Writer Randa Abdel-Fattah, whose most recent book 'Discipline' deals directly with issues surrounding Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has also withdrawn from the festival. "At a time when journalists are being permanently silenced by Israel's genocidal forces, it is incomprehensible that a writers' festival should also seek to silence Palestinian voices," she said. Author Kate Mildenhall also said she had withdrawn over concerns about the code of conduct, in solidarity with other writers. "Given that one of the threads of the conversation I was due to host at [Bendigo Writers Festival] included the topic of censorship, it is deeply regrettable that BWF has imposed a code of conduct that seeks to limit discussion," she said. "I did not receive the code of conduct and many other writers may be in this position. I have been made aware of it, and my decision to withdraw is one of solidarity." La Trobe University, which is involved in hosting some panels for the event, issued a statement saying it acknowledged the decision by some writers to withdraw. "La Trobe University supports the BWF to have measures in place to ensure respectful exchange of views as well as community safety, and notes that codes of conduct are not unusual at writers' festivals," a spokesperson said. "La Trobe University does not tolerate racism of any kind, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. "La Trobe's commitment to academic freedom and freedom of speech is consistent with our approach to creating safe environments for the free exchange of ideas." The ABC has contacted the Bendigo Writers Festival for comment.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Writers festival requires ‘complete self-censorship' over Gaza war, academic says, as speakers withdraw in protest
A number of authors and academics have withdrawn from this weekend's Bendigo Writers festival over a speaker code that one says requires 'complete self-censorship' over Israel's war in Gaza. Academic and author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, First Nations poet Dr Evelyn Araluen and Wiradjuri writer and poet Jeanine Leane are among those who have withdrawn from the festival over the code. Prof Clare Wright, a guest curator at the festival and Latrobe University academic, has also withdrawn for personal and professional reasons which include the code, a source told Guardian Australia. Author Kate Mildenhall, who was due to moderate a festival session, said she was not sent the code of conduct but has since become aware of it. 'In solidarity with the other writers who are withdrawing and also because of my own personal beliefs about the ideas of censorship I felt I was unable to continue with my participation in the writers festival,' she said. The festival's code, viewed by Guardian Australia, says speakers should uphold respectful engagements which involves avoiding language or topics that 'could be considered inflammatory, divisive, or disrespectful'. A source told Guardian Australia Bendigo Writers festival (BWF) sent some speakers the code of conduct on Wednesday – two days before the opening day. The code says that for 'La Trobe Presents panels', speakers must comply with the principles espoused in La Trobe University's Anti-Racism Plan, including the plan's definitions of antisemitism and Islamophobia. Dr Abdel-Fattah, a Macquarie University academic, said she could not appear at the festival 'as a Palestinian'. 'The actual wording of [the speaker code and La Trobe policy] requires me to engage in complete self-censorship, so, such as a profound act of gaslighting,' she said. La Trobe's 2025-2030 plan adopts University Australia's antisemitism definition. The adoption of a sector-wide definition earlier this year emerged as a key recommendation of a report on antisemitism on Australian university campuses, which found there was an 'urgent need for reform' to ensure the safety of Jewish students and staff. The definition states that antisemitism is: 'discrimination, prejudice, harassment, exclusion, vilification, intimidation or violence that impedes Jews' ability to participate as equals in educational, political, religious, cultural, economic or social life'. It states that criticism of the policies and practices of the Israeli government or state is 'not in and of itself antisemitic' but further reads: 'Criticism of Israel can be antisemitic when it is grounded in harmful tropes, stereotypes or assumptions and when it calls for the elimination of the State of Israel or all Jews or when it holds Jewish individuals or communities responsible for Israel's actions …' Some academics at Australian universities have warned the definition could have a 'chilling' effect and limit the scope of what can be taught on the Middle East. Abdel-Fattah said La Trobe's anti-racism plan makes no mention of anti-Palestinian racism. It includes a definition of Islamophobia – discrimination that may be racial, religious or cultural in nature and is defined as an irrational fear, hatred or prejudice of Islam, Muslims, Islamic traditions and practices, and those who appear to be Muslim. Abdel-Fattah said her new novel, Discipline, is centred on the story of a Palestinian author and journalist. 'The book is all about how their voices are repressed and censored and how their voices are managed through the language of policies, through the language of civility and politeness and not offending others,' she said. La Trobe University is one of the festival's partners. Wright was a guest curator of the festival's 'La Trobe Presents panels'. Araluen, a Goorie and Koori poet, said she hoped audiences would reconsider whether they wanted to attend a festival that has made it impossible for people to speak openly about their work, experiences or perspectives. 'It's really important to make sure that the art sector is not divorced from law and from policy and from morality,' she said. 'You can't place this form of censorship on artists and writers when we're being told to discuss things like First Nations, languages and the history of political representation of Aboriginal people, as is the event that I was programmed to speak on.' The programme of the two-day festival in regional Victoria says it includes events featuring 80 writers and speakers. The Bendigo Writers festival and La Trobe University have been contacted for comment.
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Award judges resign after Queensland state library strips writer's prize over Hamas tweet
At least four judges for the Queensland literary awards have resigned over the past 24 hours, protesting against the State Library of Queensland's decision to withdraw a prestigious $15,000 fellowship from First Nations writer Karen Wyld over comment she made last year about the Gaza conflict. The 2022 Stella award winning poet Evelyn Araluen, Wiradjuri academic and writer Dr Jeanine Leane, writer and reviewer Nigel Featherstone and Gamilaroi poet Luke Patterson all confirmed to Guardian Australia on Friday they have resigned from the awards' judging panels. It is believed several other judges have also resigned, but wish to remain anonymous. Wyld, who now writes under the name K A Ren Wyld, first learned her black&write! fellowship for her manuscript on the Stolen Generations had been withdrawn from a News Corp journalist on Tuesday morning, just hours before she was due to accept the award in Brisbane. Wyld said at a meeting called shortly after the journalist made contact, the library chief executive, Vicki McDonald, referred to a tweet Wyld had posted about the death of the Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in October, which referred to him as a martyr. Wyld deleted the tweet shortly after posting it. On Friday, the State Library of Queensland confirmed it had received a written direction from the state arts minister, John-Paul Langbroek, on Monday stating: 'It is my firm view and direction under Section 23 of the Libraries Act 1988 and I am sure the view of most Queenslanders, that Ms Wyld should not receive the award in a Queensland Government or State Library of Queensland venue.' A spokesperson for Langbroek told the Guardian the minister supported the library's decision to postpone the awards, and stood by the comments he made in parliament where he said that taxpayer-funded awards should not be granted 'to individuals who justify terrorism'. Earlier this week, a statement by a spokesperson for McDonald said the library's decision to 'postpone the black&write! ceremony' had been made after Langbroek's comments in parliament, in which he said he had 'taken the decision that this award should not be presented' at the state library. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email In Araluen's letter of resignation to the library, the Dropbear author told McDonald she was 'disgusted' by the library's decision to rescind Wyld's fellowship and the Queensland government's 'flagrant ministerial overreach', and was withdrawing as a judge in the Queensland literary awards' Judith Wright Calanthe award. 'I will not participate in a system that values thought-policing and the silencing of anti-genocidal sentiments over the integrity of artists,' she wrote. 'By conceding to this flagrant weaponisation of the mere perception of a bad-faith assumption of anti-Semitism, wielded against a First Nations author who has been so central to the Blak literary community, the State Library have made themselves liable for the consequences of this decision. 'The reputational harm of this choice will not be ignored by the literary and First Nations community.' Featherstone, a judge in the awards' fiction category, said he was unwilling to participate in a process where a panel's recommendations could be overruled by the arts minister, 'in effect, imposing further political silencing'. He told the Guardian there were two 'eminently competitive' books nominated in the category he was judging that dealt directly with the conflict in Gaza. 'Should the panel decide that those titles and their authors be shortlisted, or if one is recommended as the winner, will the minister be overturning those decisions too?' he asked. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Fellow fiction prize judge Leane said after careful thought she decided she had no other option than to resign. 'I cannot be complicit in this discourse that denies genocide and that tries to shut down any artist, not just First Nations, any artist or writer who wants to speak out against what is happening in Palestine,' she said. 'Ren's manuscript was not about Palestine, it was actually about the cultural genocide here … they're shutting down two discussions here … they're shutting down two truths.' The Australian Society of Authors said it intended to write to the Queensland premier and the arts minister to 'call for a strong stance on freedom of expression and independent arts funding processes'. 'This represents yet another alarming instance of the undermining of freedom of expression and arms-length arts funding,' the ASA said in a statement. 'It sets a dangerous precedent for creators – irrespective of their political views – that opportunities awarded on the basis of literary merit can be retracted if the creator is subject to complaints about their political ideas and expressions. It is vital that arts funding opportunities are independent from government interference.' The library declined to comment on the judges' resignations.
