The Adelaide writers' festival, one of Australia's most prestigious literary events, has collapsed amidst a firestorm of controversy and accusations of racism and censorship. The six-day war of words began when a business titan and arts board veteran quietly exited the festival's programming committee, but it quickly escalated into a full-blown crisis. Mass resignations, lawyers' letters of demand, and allegations of hypocrisy from all sides have left the festival in shambles.
At the heart of the storm is Palestinian Australian academic Randa Abdel-Fattah, whose invitation to the 2026 event was withdrawn just weeks ago. Her removal has sparked a global literary mutiny, with over 170 writers, commentators, and academics boycotting the festival. The British novelist Zadie Smith, Pulitzer prize winner Percival Everett, Greek economist Yanis Varoufakis, and Russian-American journalist M Gessen are among those who have turned against the festival.
The crisis began when a senior partner at law firm Dentons, Nicholas Linke, resigned from the board after discovering that Abdel-Fattah's views had been misrepresented. Abdel-Fattah herself was forced to issue a statement accusing the premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, of "spewing anti-Zionism" and trying to silence her.
Malinauskas responded by delivering a now-notorious Bondi analogy, comparing Abdel-Fattah's views to those of a far-right Zionist who would commit a hate crime. The move sparked outrage from the academic community, with many accusing the premier of bullying and abuse of power.
The Adelaide Festival Corporation has since pulled the plug on this year's event, citing "irretrievable" damage. A new board has been formed, but it is unclear what the future holds for the festival.
As one observer noted, the collapse of the festival marks a new era in South Australia where free speech and difficult ideas are no longer tolerated. The city that was once known for its radicalism and provocations has become a place where social cohesion trumps intellectual discourse.
At the heart of the storm is Palestinian Australian academic Randa Abdel-Fattah, whose invitation to the 2026 event was withdrawn just weeks ago. Her removal has sparked a global literary mutiny, with over 170 writers, commentators, and academics boycotting the festival. The British novelist Zadie Smith, Pulitzer prize winner Percival Everett, Greek economist Yanis Varoufakis, and Russian-American journalist M Gessen are among those who have turned against the festival.
The crisis began when a senior partner at law firm Dentons, Nicholas Linke, resigned from the board after discovering that Abdel-Fattah's views had been misrepresented. Abdel-Fattah herself was forced to issue a statement accusing the premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, of "spewing anti-Zionism" and trying to silence her.
Malinauskas responded by delivering a now-notorious Bondi analogy, comparing Abdel-Fattah's views to those of a far-right Zionist who would commit a hate crime. The move sparked outrage from the academic community, with many accusing the premier of bullying and abuse of power.
The Adelaide Festival Corporation has since pulled the plug on this year's event, citing "irretrievable" damage. A new board has been formed, but it is unclear what the future holds for the festival.
As one observer noted, the collapse of the festival marks a new era in South Australia where free speech and difficult ideas are no longer tolerated. The city that was once known for its radicalism and provocations has become a place where social cohesion trumps intellectual discourse.
I'm not surprised to see the Adelaide writers' festival go up in flames like this. It's just another example of how easily people can be silenced when their views aren't aligning with the "right" crowd 
. Randa Abdel-Fattah was a great addition to the lineup, and it's ridiculous that her invitation got pulled just weeks before the festival. And what really gets my goat is Peter Malinauskas' Bondi analogy - that was some low-hanging fruit right there 
. It shows exactly where his priorities lie: trying to quash dissenting voices instead of engaging in meaningful conversations 
. As a result, it's no wonder the festival collapsed 
. Maybe next year they'll think twice before messing with people like Abdel-Fattah... but I wouldn't hold my breath 
.
. I mean, come on, who tries to compare someone's opinions to a hate crime? That Bondi analogy was low-key disturbing 
. The Adelaide Festival has always been about giving a platform to different voices and perspectives, but now it seems like they're trying to silence them instead 
. It's not okay to use that kind of language, especially when you're in power 
. Can't we just have a real conversation without resorting to scare tactics? 
, can you believe this? So now it's all about the Adelaide Writers' Festival and how they went from being one of Australia's most prestigious events to a total dumpster fire 
, basically saying she's somehow equivalent to a far-right Zionist who'd commit a hate crime 
. Like, no thanks mate 
trying to maintain some semblance of relevance.
. Just another sad day for free speech in Australia 
they were supposed to be all about promoting new voices and perspectives, but now it seems like the powers that be are just trying to silence anyone who dares to challenge the status quo 
And what's with Peter Malinauskas's ridiculous analogy? 
that Bondi Beach thing was just...wow
OMG what's going on with the Adelaide writers' fest!!! 
They're not backing down from this either... I love how Randa Abdel-Fattah isn't afraid to speak truth to power and stand up for what she believes in 
. And can we talk about Peter Malinauskas' infamous Bondi analogy? 
What was he even thinking?! It's like, hello social cohesion doesn't have to mean suppressing difficult conversations... let's keep the debate going! 
. And now the festival is cancelled? It's like they're afraid of having an uncomfortable conversation 
.
. And honestly? I think it's kind of refreshing to see some people standing up for what they believe in, even if it means going against the status quo 
. But maybe this is an opportunity for some soul-searching about what we value in our communities?
. Can we just have a debate without someone getting hurt or losing their job? 
It's like everyone's trying to cancel each other out instead of having a real discussion 
.
I mean, I'm all for free speech, but we need to find a way to balance that with respect and empathy too 
. I don't know what the future holds for the festival, but I hope they figure out a way to make it work again 
.
. What happened to allowing people to have different perspectives and engage in discussions? 
.
and what's with the accusations of racism? it feels like everyone's just trying to silence each other 
. I mean, Zadie Smith and others boycotting the festival makes total sense - we need more diverse voices in literature, you know? 
. That analogy was just so...awkward 
...but I guess it's also kind of a wake-up call? We need to find ways to create spaces where people can discuss tough topics without getting upset or censored 
I mean, come on Peter Malinauskas, that Bondi analogy was some next-level shade 
. Can't say I'm surprised though, when you've got power trying to silence dissenting voices 
all this drama over one person's views and it just shows how easily the powers that be can silence anyone with opposing opinions. what happened to free speech? shouldn't we be having more of these uncomfortable conversations than hiding behind 'hate crimes'? 
It's not like Abdel-Fattah's views were that radical or anything... just some normal opinions about Zionism. And Malinauskas didn't overstep by saying something inflammatory, he was just keeping it real. That Bondi analogy? Genius! Someone needs to tell it like it is in SA now. The whole thing is a total overreaction... I mean, who's gonna sit down for some boring literary fest when you can have a good old-fashioned cultural cleansing instead? 
. Maybe the festival organizers should've handled things differently from the start? 
i get why people were upset about her comments being misrepresented, but like, can't we just have a respectful convo about sensitive topics? 
! Like, I get it, controversy can be hard to navigate, but to dissolve an entire festival over a single person's views? That's just ridiculous. Randa Abdel-Fattah was invited to share her perspective, and instead of engaging with her ideas, everyone started throwing around accusations and insults. And that Bondi analogy by Malinauskas?