The Adelaide Festival has withdrawn an invitation for prominent academic and Palestine advocate Randa Abdel-Fattah to appear at its Writers' Week event, citing 'cultural sensitivity' concerns following a review after the Bondi attack. The festival board said it was 'shocked and saddened' by the Bondi tragedy and that community tensions had heightened.
In a statement, the board said it had formed the judgment not to proceed with Abdel-Fattah's scheduled appearance, noting that while it did not suggest any connection between her and the Bondi attack, the decision was made 'given her past statements' and a view that it would not be culturally sensitive to program her 'so soon after Bondi'.
Abdel-Fattah accused the board of 'blatant and shameless' anti-Palestinian racism and censorship, saying the attempt to associate her with the Bondi massacre was 'despicable'. She stated that the board had stripped her of her humanity and agency, reducing her to an object for racist fears and smears.
Several writers and sponsors withdrew in solidarity. The Australia Institute ended its sponsorship for the 2026 event, saying censorship was not in the spirit of free exchange of ideas. Poet Evelyn Araluen publicly withdrew, calling the decision a 'devastating betrayal' of democratic ethos. Former director Jo Dyer expressed being 'appalled'.
