The ASA is disturbed by the decision of the Queensland Government to rescind author KA Ren Wyld’s 2025 black&write! Fellowship, which is administered by the State Library of Queensland. Wyld was due to be awarded the Fellowship in a ceremony on Tuesday 20 May at SLQ alongside another unnamed recipient. However, following concerns about Wyld’s political commentary reported to have been made by the Queensland Premier and Arts Minister, the opportunity was rescinded.

This represents yet another alarming instance of the undermining of freedom of expression and arms-length arts funding. 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 ASA stands firmly by our commitment to freedom of expression. We have sought information from the State Library of Queensland about this decision and will write to the Queensland Premier and Arts Minister to call for a strong stance on freedom of expression and independent arts funding processes.