Several prominent Australian authors have severed ties with University of Queensland Press (UQP) after the publisher cancelled a children's book due to controversial comments made by its illustrator about the victims of the Bondi terror attack. Authors Evelyn Araluen, Melissa Lucashenko, and Randa Abdel-Fattah are among those refusing future work with the Brisbane-based publisher.
UQP announced on Wednesday it would not proceed with 'Bila, A River Cycle', written by Indigenous poet Jazz Money and illustrated by Matt Chun. The decision followed Chun's Substack post on 1 January, in which he described victims of the 14 December Bondi attack, which killed 15 people, as 'affluent beneficiaries of imperialism' and criticised what he called 'Zionist framing' of the event.
The university stated the comments 'do not align with the University's policies and values including in light of its adopted definition of antisemitism'. Chun, who stands by his words, accused UQP of 'capitulating to Zionist lobbyism'. The Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies welcomed the move, with president Jason Steinberg calling Chun's views 'hate, vitriol and grotesque propaganda'.
Money expressed concern over the 'really disturbing precedent' set by the cancellation, noting that thousands of copies had already been printed. UQP denied it was 'pulping' the books, stating they remain in storage while 'recycling options' are considered. The New South Wales police hate crime unit is investigating Chun's post.
