Donate
 |
| Reasons given for boycotting the event included not being ‘party to silencing writers’. |
The implosion of the Adelaide Writers’ Festival stands as a hard reminder of historical lessons ignored.
Initially, the board cancelled a scheduled Palestinian-Australian author. A mass exodus of left-wing authors followed, culminating in the resignation of festival director, Louise Adler, and the cancellation of the event.
The author’s cancellation also brought a wave of withdrawals from writers and others, protesting what they call censorship.
Reasons given for boycotting the event included not being ‘party to silencing writers’.
However, uninviting controversial writers from a publicly-funded event is a far cry from silencing writers in general. It is my view that if people want to write controversial stuff, then they can do so at their own expense.
Among those who withdrew from the publicly-funded event were ABC journalists, whose actions raise sharp questions about the dangers of blind idealism. Such misplaced idealism is not new.
In the Morning Double Shot newsletter, Terry Barnes wrote:
What is the collective noun for a gathering of useless people who deserve one-way tickets for the next rocket to the Sun? That’s right, a writers’ festival. No-one should mourn the demise of the 2026 Adelaide Writers’ Week, and nobody should express any sympathy for, let alone solidarity with, the person who caused the controversy, nor the luvvies who flounced out after her. The real issue is this. If you take taxpayers’ coin for your love-in, the government of the day which approves the funding has a right to say who comes to the party. If you don’t like it, send the money back and do your own thing. I could say more, but…Michael de Percy shares his own views on the stupidity.
My latest in The Spectator Australia, Adelaide writers’ festival meets the ghosts of socialists past.
Australia will now face a difficult reality. In light of the Bondi massacre, there will be those who debate the ground between censorship and insensitivity.
— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) January 14, 2026
Article | https://t.co/oPaVkDHZFT pic.twitter.com/PV8GofSPKk
No comments
Post a Comment