Writers' Week letter shows premier backed removal of Randa Abdel-Fattah

By Daniel Keane, ABC Photo: ABC News A key letter in the Writers' Week saga has been made public, detailing the objections the South Australian premier expressed to the Adelaide Festival board about the scheduled appearance of author Randa Abdel-Fattah days before her cancellation. Peter Malinauskas strongly urged against the inclusion of Abdel-Fattah on the program of the now scrapped 2026 literary event, saying it was "not in the public interest" and citing controversial statements the Palestinian-Australian author had made about Zionism. In the letter dated 2 January, which was on Sunday published by The Sunday Mail and obtained by the ABC, Malinauskas told the Adelaide Festival board it would open itself up to "accusations of hypocrisy" and "legitimate public ridicule" if it did not cancel the appearance of Abdel-Fattah from this year's Writers' Week. Six days later, the board released a statement confirming Abdel-Fattah's exclusion, accompanied with the claim that it would "not be culturally sensitive to continue to program [Abdel-Fattah] at this unprecedented time so soon after Bondi". In response to the public release of the premier's letter, Abdel-Fattah's lawyer said the document had "disturbing features" and labelled it "coercive". In the immediate aftermath of the author's exclusion, Malinauskas was asked about what role he had played, and said while he did not have the power to direct the board, it had asked for his opinion before making its decision to revoke its invitation to Abdel-Fattah. Photo: Jennifer Wong / ABC News In the three-page letter addressed to the board's now former chair Tracey Whiting, Malinauskas set out his reasons for opposing Abdel-Fattah's inclusion. "The conflict between Israel and Palestine evokes exceptionally strong and polarising views and emotions," the premier wrote. "Freedom of speech is fundamental to Australia's democratic society and any Australian is entitled to express their views on this conflict, including their strong opposition and condemnation of the views or actions of involved parties. However, I am of the view that the statements and actions attributed to Dr Abdel-Fattah go beyond reasonable public debate. "I am surprised at the decision by Adelaide Writers' Week to give a platform to this author and deeply concerned that the Board is not prepared to remove her appearance from the program, particularly in light of current circumstances, the national mood and need for social cohesion following the Bondi terror attack." Malinauskas referred to several statements and gestures, including Abdel-Fattah's comment that Zionists "have no claim or right to cultural safety", and her decision to change her social media cover image, in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023, to show a person with a parachute in Palestinian colours. He said the government would not shy away from public criticism of Abdel-Fattah's inclusion at Writers' Week. "While the decision on whether to program Dr Abdel-Fattah remains one for the Board, I want to put it on the record that the South Australian Government fundamentally opposes the inclusion of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah on the 2026 Adelaide Writers' Week program and reserves the right to make public statements to this effect," he wrote. "I will also make it clear that I believe that the Board's failure to remove Dr Abdel-Fattah from the program following the Bondi terror attack, would be contrary to the Board's broader responsibility to the Adelaide Festival and Adelaide Writers' Week." Part of the controversy over Abdel-Fattah's cancellation has involved the earlier non-appearance, at the 2024 Adelaide Writers' Week, of Jewish American journalist Thomas Friedman, after concerns were raised about the language in his article "Understanding the Middle East Through the Animal Kingdom". Malinauskas expressed support for that outcome, describing it as "entirely reasonable", but urged the board to "apply the same principle at this year's event". "A failure to do so leaves the Board open to accusations of hypocrisy, opens the Festival to legitimate public ridicule and opprobrium, and risks undermining the very social license under which Writers' Week operates," the premier wrote. "I encourage the Board to consider its position." Following the public release of the premier's letter, Abdel-Fattah's lawyer Michael Bradley said it had "many startling and disturbing features". "Despite his repeated public protestations that he did not do so, his letter is obviously coercive and would have left the Board feeling it had no choice but to comply," Bradley said in a statement. "Their independence apparently meant little to him, and it should be remembered that his government appoints the Board and provides most of the Festival's funding." Bradley said the premier had accepted media claims Abdel-Fattah's statements were "racist, antisemitic and hateful" without checking "any of the allegations about...

Writers' Week letter shows premier backed removal of Randa Abdel-Fattah

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