University of Queensland Press Cancels Children's Book Over Illustrator's Comments
The University of Queensland Press has made the controversial decision to cancel publication of a children's book by award-winning Indigenous poet Jazz Money, citing illustrator Matt Chun's comments about victims of the Bondi beach terror attack as the reason. The book, titled Bila, A River Cycle, was described as a lyrical journey through Country that tells the story of a river taking human form.
Publisher Cites Antisemitism Concerns
On Wednesday, the University of Queensland announced its publishing house would not proceed with the book's publication and was considering recycling options for already printed copies. The university stated the decision stemmed from comments Chun made in an online article that "do not align with the University's policies and values including in light of its adopted definition of antisemitism."
In his Substack post titled "We don't mourn fascists" published on January 1, Chun criticized what he called the "Zionist framing" of the Bondi attack, describing victims as "affluent beneficiaries of imperialism." He wrote: "Whiteness, Jewishness, and the backdrop of Bondi Beach were enough to bestow every person killed with default innocence and virtue. White, Jewish settler victimhood demands exceptional, heightened grief."
Authors Terminate Relationships with Publisher
The decision has prompted significant backlash from prominent Australian authors. Several have announced they will terminate their contracts or refuse future work with the Brisbane-based publisher. Among those protesting the move are:
- Goorie and Koori poet Evelyn Araluen
- Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah
- Award-winning First Nations author Melissa Lucashenko
Lucashenko called the cancellation an "egregious decision" and said she was seeking legal advice about her upcoming book Blood on the Tiles, scheduled for publication by UQP next year. "It is not only silencing an Indigenous author, it's caving in to the Murdoch press," she stated.
Financial and Cultural Impact
Jazz Money expressed deep concern about both the financial impact on her career and the broader precedent set by the decision. "It sucks for me that my book is getting cancelled," she said. "But the thing to me that is most pressing about this whole story is the precedent that this sets: that even a kids' book about a river written by an Aboriginal person on Aboriginal land can be destroyed because of a right wing media campaign."
Money, who has worked with UQP since winning the David Unaipon award in 2020, said the book had "not got anything to do with antisemitism or Israel or Palestine" and was simply "about a river." She estimated thousands of copies had already been printed before the cancellation.
Mixed Reactions to Decision
The Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies welcomed the publisher's move, with president Jason Steinberg stating: "Publishing a book, no matter the topic, whose illustrator [expresses views such as Chun's] would be unacceptable. It is exactly these types of sentiments expressed by a range of individuals that have enabled hate and falsehoods to fester in Australia."
However, Chun defended his position, telling Guardian Australia he stood by "every word" of his article, which he said was "deeply considered and written in close consultation with Jewish comrades." He accused UQP of capitulating to "Zionist lobbyism and sustained pressure from pro-Israel media."
The New South Wales police confirmed their Engagement and Hate Crime Unit was investigating Chun's post about the Bondi attack, which claimed fifteen lives including a ten-year-old child.
Broader Publishing Industry Fallout
The controversy extends beyond UQP, with bookseller Dymocks having pulled other works by Chun from its shelves in January following media coverage of his comments. The Australian newspaper had previously described Chun's statements as a "tirade against Jews and Zionists."
Araluen, who terminated her relationship with UQP immediately, said she would rescind a contract on an upcoming nonfiction book and repay a $2,500 advance. "For these books to be pulped is so egregiously culturally violent and wasteful and disrespectful," she told Guardian Australia.
Abdel-Fattah accused UQP of having "chosen to indulge a coordinated outrage campaign designed to intimidate, delegitimise, and chill dissent," stating that her book Discipline would be her "first and last" with the publisher.
A University of Queensland spokesperson denied the institution was "pulping" Money's book, saying "the books remain in storage while the University considers recycling options." The spokesperson expressed regret for the impact on Money and stated: "We have enormous respect for Jazz and her work and we would welcome the opportunity to work with Jazz again in the future."
