Academic and author Randa Abdel-Fattah has been removed from the 2026 Adelaide Writers’ Week program, with the Adelaide Festival Board citing community sensitivity in the wake of the Bondi Junction attack.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Festival Board confirmed it had decided not to proceed with Abdel-Fattah’s scheduled appearance, describing the move as an “appropriate response” given heightened community tension and national grief.
The Board said it did not suggest any connection between Abdel-Fattah or her work and the attack. However, it stated that “given her past statements”, it had formed the view that continuing to program her would not be culturally sensitive at this time.
The Board acknowledged that the decision would prompt differing responses, noting that assessments of what constitutes an appropriate response to tragedy are “subjective in nature” and may evolve over time.
Abdel-Fattah, an academic at Macquarie University and author of the 2025 book Discipline, was informed of the decision on Thursday. Her image was subsequently removed from the Writers’ Week website.
Premier Peter Malinauskas Supports Board Decision
Writers’ Week director Louise Adler declined to comment beyond the statement. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said he supported the Board’s decision and confirmed he had made it clear to the Board that he did not support Abdel-Fattah’s inclusion in the program.
"By law, I am prevented from directing the board,” Malinauskas said. “However, when asked for my opinion, I was happy to make it clear that the state government did not support the inclusion of Dr Abdel-Fattah on the Adelaide Writers’ Week program.”
Malinauskas said he did not support the inclusion of individuals who “actively undermine the cultural safety of others”, adding that the Adelaide Festival had removed a Jewish writer from the Writers’ Week program in 2024 under what he described as similar circumstances.
The Australia Institute Withdraws Support
The decision has drawn reaction from across the arts and literary community. The Australia Institute announced it would withdraw its support and sponsored events from this year’s festival.
“The Australia Institute has valued being part of discussions at the event, which in the past have promoted bravery, freedom of expression and the exchange of ideas,” the organisation said. “Censoring or cancelling authors is not in the spirit of an open and free exchange of ideas.”
Several writers, such as Marieke Hardy and Hannah Ferguson, have also indicated they will withdraw from the event.
Image: Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah © Sky News
Abdel-Fattah described her removal as “a blatant and shameless act of anti-Palestinian racism and censorship”, and rejected any attempt to associate her with the Bondi attack.
The controversy comes a month after Abdel-Fattah was cleared of wrongdoing following a 10-month investigation into her research at Macquarie University. The investigation was initiated in early 2025 after Federal Education Minister Jason Clare requested the Australian Research Council examine potential conflicts of interest and spending linked to an $870,000 research grant awarded to Abdel-Fattah in 2022. The grant was suspended in February 2025 and reinstated in December.
In 2023, Abdel-Fattah told Sky News she “did not see Hamas as a terrorist organisation. I [do] condemn the violence that Hamas perpetrated, and it should be held to account." In 2022 the Australian Government listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
The Adelaide Festival Board also confirmed it has established a sub-committee to oversee a broader review of Writers’ Week programming decisions, including engagement with government agencies and external advisers.
The full 2026 Writers’ Week program has yet to be released. Events announced so far include discussions on Gaza, the aftermath of October 7, and a session titled What Do We Mean When We Talk About Antisemitism?
This is not the first time Writers’ Week programming has prompted controversy. In 2023, the inclusion of Palestinian-American writer Susan Abulhawa and Palestinian poet Mohammed El-Kur led to sponsorship withdrawals and public debate, though both authors ultimately appeared at the festival.
The 2026 Adelaide Writers’ Week program is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
