The Adelaide Festival Board's decision to exclude Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from Adelaide Writers’ Week, citing "cultural sensitivity," has raised concerns about free speech. The board's choice appears to override the festival's director, Louise Adler, who had planned for Abdel-Fattah to participate.

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The board stated that including Abdel-Fattah shortly after the Bondi terror attacks, which occurred on December 14, 2025, would be inappropriate due to her "past statements." In reaction to her removal, over 30 prominent authors, including novelist Zadie Smith and other award-winning authors, have withdrawn from the upcoming event, which begins on February 28.

The board articulated its reasoning in light of the national context, emphasizing social cohesion: "Whilst we do not suggest in any way that Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah's or her writings have any connection with the tragedy at Bondi, given her past statements we have formed the view that it would not be culturally sensitive to continue to program her at this unprecedented time so soon after Bondi."

Despite clarifying that neither Abdel-Fattah nor her work are related to the attacks, the board's vague reference to unspecified past statements led to her exclusion. This decision has sparked outcry regarding its alignment with the Racial Discrimination Act, which prohibits offensive conduct based on race, and broader standards of free speech.

Abdel-Fattah condemned the board's actions as “blatant and shameless” anti-Palestinian racism and claimed that insinuating her presence might trigger those mourning from the attacks is “despicable.” She was scheduled to discuss her novel *Discipline*, which addresses significant media ethics issues regarding the representation of voices in storytelling.

The festival board's commitment to creating a sub-committee to guide its decisions, including input from government agencies and external experts, raises further free speech concerns. This approach contrasts sharply with Adler's previous stance of advocating for Palestinian authors, particularly highlighted in 2023 when she resisted pressure concerning the inclusion of authors who drew controversial parallels.

The swift response from the literary community to these developments has been significant, with many participants withdrawing their involvement. Notable figures like journalist Peter Greste reminded that silencing voices does not contribute to social cohesion and emphasized the importance of engaging in challenging conversations.

In a statement regarding the situation, the Writers' Week website has temporarily unpublished the event participant list as it reevaluates its programming. The board's decision appears to neglect lessons learned from similar past controversies affecting free speech, such as the withdrawal of writers from the Bendigo Writers’ Festival following imposed codes of conduct.

As Adelaide Festival Board chair Tracy Whiting AM and her team navigate these contentious issues, a South Australian government spokesperson affirmed that Premier Peter Malinauskas supports the board’s decision.