The ASA is deeply troubled by the Adelaide Festival Board’s decision to cancel author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah’s scheduled appearance at this year’s Adelaide Writers’ Week. As has been reported in the media, a number of writers are withdrawing from the festival in protest, including ASA Chair Jennifer Mills.

This decision is another in a series of disturbing cancellations and acts of censorship of Australian creators on the basis of complaints about their ideas and expressions.

The ASA supports freedom of expression as a fundamental right. Authors should be free to express their ideas and opinions, within the reasonable limits set by the law; to show solidarity, sign open letters and petitions, and to do their work without fear of professional or personal repercussions. It is through that work that we understand ourselves and our stories, critically reflect on the challenges of our times, and build empathy. 

The ASA will write to the Adelaide Festival Board and to South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas MP, and Minister for the Arts, Andrea Michaels MP, to raise our objections and call for this decision to be reversed. 

We invite authors and illustrators who wish to discuss their concerns or need advice to contact us at [email protected].