Prominent Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah has initiated formal defamation proceedings against South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, following what she describes as "vicious personal assaults" made against her in the wake of her controversial exclusion from Adelaide Writers' Week.
Legal Action Launched Following Public Statements
In a significant legal escalation, Abdel-Fattah revealed on Wednesday morning via social media that her lawyers had issued a formal concerns notice under the Defamation Act to the premier. The author framed this move as an opportunity for Malinauskas to "undo some of the harm he has inflicted." The dispute stems from a series of public comments made by the premier after Abdel-Fattah's removal from the literary festival's program last week.
The Adelaide Festival Board initially justified its decision to exclude the acclaimed author, stating it had "formed the view that it would not be culturally sensitive" to feature her so soon after the December massacre of Jewish people at Bondi Beach. This reasoning, linking Abdel-Fattah's participation to the Bondi atrocity, became a central point of contention.
A Cascade of Resignations and Cancellations
The board's controversial move triggered immediate and widespread backlash across Australia's literary community. Dozens of authors announced boycotts of Adelaide Writers' Week in solidarity with Abdel-Fattah. The mounting pressure proved unsustainable, ultimately leading to the resignation of the entire Adelaide Festival Board and the complete cancellation of the prestigious event itself.
Adding to the crisis, Adelaide Writers' Week director Louise Adler also resigned from her position. Adler cited a "broader pattern of political interference in the arts" as a key reason for her departure, suggesting the controversy was symptomatic of a larger issue.
Author Accuses Premier of Defamatory Conduct
In her detailed social media statement, Abdel-Fattah outlined the basis of her defamation claim. She asserted that for the past week, Premier Malinauskas had made numerous public statements about her character, despite the two having never met or communicated directly.
"He knows nothing about me, beyond what he has been told by the Murdoch press and the pro-Israel lobby, which he has apparently accepted without question," Abdel-Fattah stated. She claimed the premier escalated matters on Tuesday by publicly labelling her "an extremist terrorist sympathiser" and directly linking her to the Bondi atrocity.
"This was a vicious personal assault on me, a private citizen, by the highest public official in South Australia," she said. "It was defamatory and it terrified me. Enough is enough, I am a human being, not a punching bag."
As of Wednesday, Premier Peter Malinauskas has not publicly responded to the issued concerns notice but is scheduled to hold a press briefing shortly. The legal action marks a dramatic new chapter in a saga that has shaken Australia's arts and political spheres, raising critical questions about free speech, political commentary, and cultural sensitivity.
