The New South Wales government has reached out to the board of the upcoming Newcastle Writers Festival regarding the potential participation of Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah. This development comes on the heels of significant controversy surrounding Dr. Abdel-Fattah's recent invitation to the Adelaide Writers' Week, which ultimately led to the resignation of the entire board and its director, Louise Adler, as well as the cancellation of that event altogether.
The board's decision to step down was preceded by a statement expressing concerns about cultural sensitivity. They felt it would be inappropriate to feature the Palestinian author shortly after a tragic incident at Bondi Beach, where a terrorist attack during a Jewish celebration resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals.
As for the upcoming Newcastle Writers Festival, scheduled to take place from March 27 to 29, the complete program is expected to be unveiled this Friday morning. However, sources suggest that Dr. Abdel-Fattah is likely to be among the speakers at the event. Furthermore, discussions between the Minns government and board members regarding her appearance have been confirmed, though the specifics of these conversations remain unclear. It is not known if any formal requests were made by the government concerning her participation.
The topic has also made its way into state parliament, where Liberal MP Aileen MacDonald raised concerns about the appropriateness of allocating a $250,000 grant to the Newcastle Writers Festival if Dr. Abdel-Fattah is included in the lineup. Arts Minister John Graham addressed these issues during the parliamentary session, emphasizing that the government prioritizes social cohesion, especially in light of the Bondi terror attack.
Mr. Graham remarked, "The latest update I received regarding the Newcastle Writers Festival is that they are still preparing to announce their program publicly. Our ongoing efforts have focused on collaborating with cultural institutions and the arts sector to ensure Jewish audiences feel welcomed in these spaces. However, I should add that I do not support cancel culture."
When approached for comments, Rosemarie Milsom, vice president of the Newcastle Writers Festival, refrained from discussing the program prior to its official release. She also chose not to comment on whether the NSW government had brought up Dr. Abdel-Fattah during their discussions.
Interestingly, the festival's website advocates for "freedom of expression" and clarifies that an invitation to speak does not imply endorsement of the author's views or the sentiments expressed in their works. Dr. Abdel-Fattah has been invited to provide her perspective on the matter.
