Premier Peter Malinauskas’ office voiced support for the board’s call and said the government was kept informed during post‑Bondi discussions.

Adelaide Writers’ Week cancelled Palestinian‑Australian author Dr. Randa Abdel‑Fattah from its 2026 program, citing cultural sensitivity in the wake of the Bondi tragedy.

The festival board said the decision came after weeks of internal review and that Abdel‑Fattah’s past statements made it culturally insensitive to proceed so soon after Bondi.

The board stressed the move was not about Abdel‑Fattah’s writings or actions, but about current and planned operations and her past statements evaluated during a review aimed at promoting community cohesion.

A formal, ongoing review of Writers’ Week programming is being launched, with a new subcommittee to oversee board‑led reviews and to engage with government agencies and external experts.

The festival, which begins February 27, will be guided by these reviews and the subcommittee as it makes decisions and communicates with participants.

The board pledged transparent updates to participants and stakeholders as the review progresses, including ongoing engagement with external advisers.

Background notes include Abdel‑Fattah’s prior investigations and suspensions related to a research grant and criticisms of her Israel‑related comments, which had been resolved prior to this event.

In 2023, donors and sponsors raised concerns about speakers’ remarks, prompting defense of academic and artistic freedom by festival leadership.

Many writers and figures criticized the decision as censorship or a betrayal of democratic principles, while some supporters argued the board was balancing sensitivity to the national context.

Abdel‑Fattah warned the literary community to expect backlash, accusing the festival of demonizing Palestinians while defending free speech in other contexts.

Other withdrawals followed, including Peter Greste, Yanis Varoufakis, Evelyn Araluen, Amy McQuire, Clare Wright, Chelsea Watego, Bernadette Brennan and Amy Remeikis, among others.