1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,359 Speaker 1: Already and this is the Daily Ars. This is the Dailias. 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:16,119 Speaker 2: Oh now it makes sense. Good morning and welcome to 3 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 2: the Daily Os. It's Wednesday, the fourteenth of January. I'm 4 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 2: Emma Gillespie, I'm Lucy Tarsel. The twenty twenty six Adelaide 5 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 2: Writers Week has been canceled. It follows backlash over a 6 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 2: decision to remove Dr Randa Abdelfhatda from the festival program. 7 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 2: The Palestinian Australian author and advocate was slated to speak 8 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 2: as part of the Adelaide Festival Writers Week event next month. However, 9 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 2: the festival board said her previous comments mean it would 10 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 2: not be culturally sensitive to include her in the wake 11 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 2: of the Bondai terror attack. Now, Abdelfhatda has been a 12 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 2: vocal critic of Israel and accused of anti Semitism, but 13 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 2: the writer has called the decision a quote blatant and 14 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 2: shameless act of anti Palestinian racism. Politicians have weighed in, 15 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 2: some supporting and some condemning the move, while dozens of 16 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 2: writers and officials have cut ties with the festival, and 17 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 2: as the fallout from Abdelfatter's removal continues. In Today's Deep Dive, 18 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 2: we are going to take you right through this controversy 19 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 2: from the very beginning leading up to the cancelation, as 20 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 2: well as talk about what this means for the future 21 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 2: of the Adelaide Festival. 22 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 3: Emma, this story has been evolving for about a week now. 23 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 3: I was on leave for that week, so it was 24 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:33,199 Speaker 3: one of the things I kind of had to catch 25 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 3: up on when I was coming back into the news 26 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 3: this week. 27 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: Before we get. 28 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 3: Into everything, can you explain a little bit about this 29 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 3: actual event. What's the Adelaide Festival and what's its Rider's Week. 30 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, So, the Adelaide Festival is an internationally recognized arts event. 31 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 2: It's been running every year since nineteen sixty and to 32 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: give you a bit of a sense of its status 33 00:01:55,440 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: on the world stage, its sister festival is the Edinburgh Festival, 34 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 2: a globally renowned one. So the Adelaide Festival is really 35 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 2: considered one of the top festivals in the world. And 36 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 2: as part of its annual program it includes the Adelaide 37 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 2: Writers Week that is Australia's largest free literary festival, and 38 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 2: this year that week was set to run from the 39 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 2: twenty eighth to February to the fifth of March. As 40 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 2: with most festivals of this nature, you might imagine there 41 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 2: are several panelists involved, invited to speak across various events, 42 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 2: dozens of writers among them, and that included Palestinian Australian 43 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 2: author Dr Randa Abdelfadder. But last week, when you were 44 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 2: enjoying Leave Lucy and as many people might have missed 45 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 2: and are trying to catch up on now, festival organizers 46 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,959 Speaker 2: announced that abdel Fatter would be removed from the twenty 47 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 2: twenty six Writers Week program. 48 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: What did they say was the reason for this? 49 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 2: The festival board released a statement. Now it was quite 50 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 2: broad or vague in nature, but it did say, given 51 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 2: Abdelfatda's past statements, we have formed the view that it 52 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 2: would not be culturally sensitive to continue to include her 53 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 2: on the program so soon after Bondi Now that comment 54 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 2: referring to the fourteenth of December Bondai terror attack, The 55 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 2: board said it quote does not suggest in any way 56 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 2: that this author or her writings have any connection with 57 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 2: the tragedy at Bondai. Okay, but that's pretty much all 58 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 2: we got. 59 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,239 Speaker 3: Do we know what the festival means when it says 60 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 3: past statements? 61 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: Do they give any. 62 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 2: Specifics the festival didn't give specifics, but we do have 63 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 2: some context if we look a bit more into this 64 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 2: author and her past. So as I mentioned, doctor Randa 65 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: Abdelfatda is a Palestinian Australian author. She's also a lawyer 66 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 2: an advocate. She's published twelve books and she's a researcher 67 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 2: at Macquarie University in Sydney. She specializes in areas including 68 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 2: Islamophobia and Palestine Now. She is also a vocal critic 69 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 2: of Israel on the record, and at the end of 70 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 2: twenty twenty four wrote on social media quote may twenty 71 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 2: twenty five be the end of Israel. She also wrote 72 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: quote if you are a Zionist, you have no claim 73 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 2: or right to cultural safety. 74 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: Okay. 75 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 2: The Mcquarie UNI vice chancellor, a guy called Bruce Doughton, 76 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 2: was actually questioned about Abdelfatter's comments at a twenty twenty 77 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 2: five parliamentary hearing into anti Semitism at universities. Now he 78 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 2: said that some of her comments could be quote construed 79 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 2: as anti Semitic, but the legal definition was not clear 80 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 2: enough for disciplinary action okay. He did note, or was 81 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 2: cautious to highlight that the Mcquarie University doesn't actually pay 82 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 2: Abdelfatter's salary. He noted that that comes from an Australian 83 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 2: Research Council grant. The mcquariy vice Chancellor also said that 84 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 2: she doesn't regularly teach or interact with students in her 85 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 2: role as a researcher at the UNI. But following all 86 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 2: of this, the ARC actually conducted a ten month review 87 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:04,919 Speaker 2: into Abdelfatter. It temporarily suspended her research grant during that process, 88 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 2: but ultimately she was cleared of wrongdoing last month. 89 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 3: Okay, so, just to recap, the Adelaide Festival invites Abdolphadda 90 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 3: to speak at the Writer's Week. Then it aunt invites her, 91 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 3: saying it wouldn't be culturally sensitive following Bondai. It says 92 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 3: it's done this in light of past statements, but it 93 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 3: doesn't actually say what any of those statements it's thinking 94 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 3: about were exactly. 95 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 2: You're following. 96 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 3: Well, obviously that's not where this story ends. What has 97 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 3: happened since then and how has Abdelfadder responded? So? 98 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 2: The author called her removal from the festival quote a 99 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 2: despicable attempt to associate her with the Bondai massacre. She 100 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 2: said the board's reasoning suggests that her mere presence is 101 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,919 Speaker 2: culturally insensitive, but that she remains confident the writing community 102 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 2: will quote ultimately respond with principle and integrity. Lawyers representing 103 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 2: Abdelfatdter have now to the Adelaide Festival board asking for 104 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 2: an explanation about how and why it decided to remove 105 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,359 Speaker 2: the author from the event. So, as you correctly pointed out, Lucy, 106 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 2: the board didn't give specific examples of what she had 107 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 2: said and what had led to the decision that Michael 108 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 2: Bradley from Mark Lawyers wrote, quote, as a matter of 109 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 2: basic procedural fairness to doctor Abdelfhatter, please identify with specificity 110 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 2: each of the past statements made by her on which 111 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 2: the board relied in making its decision. The lawyer said, 112 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 2: she is quote entitled to this information. 113 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 3: So she said she expects the writing community to kind 114 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 3: of rally behind her. 115 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:41,599 Speaker 1: Have they done so. 116 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 2: We have seen a significant response against this decision, and 117 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 2: exactly in line with what Abdelfatter had called from in 118 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 2: terms of from her contemporaries and colleagues in the industry. 119 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:58,039 Speaker 2: Readers and Writers Against Genocide confirmed that dozens of authors 120 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 2: had withdrawn from the Writer's Week Due to the removal 121 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 2: of Abdelfatter. Almost immediately after the announcement last week and 122 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 2: since then, over one hundred authors, academics, commentators, political figures 123 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 2: have all pulled out of the event. All up, it's 124 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 2: around one hundred and eighty participants who have withdrawn their support. Politically, 125 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 2: the removal of Abdelfatter has also drawn a lot of conversation, 126 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 2: some support, some condemnation. We've heard a lot from South 127 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 2: Australian Premier Peter Malinowskis. He has supported the festival's decision 128 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 2: to remove this author from its speaking program, but there 129 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 2: are some concerns around when the Premier weighed in and 130 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 2: how much say he had on the removal of Abdelfatter. 131 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 2: Malanowskis noted that quote post BONDI when it was drawn 132 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 2: to my attention that this woman was still on the program, 133 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 2: I absolutely expressed my view and my concern around it. 134 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 2: I made that clear, that view, of course, being that 135 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 2: he thought she should be removed from the event. However, 136 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 2: we've got the Greens at a federal level who have 137 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 2: accused the Premiere of putting political pressure on the Adelaide 138 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 2: Festival board in particular Green Senator and art spokesperson Sarah 139 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 2: Hanson Young, who said Malinowskis quote must change course to 140 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 2: stem the collapse of this beloved arts institution. That must 141 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 2: start with reinstating author doctor Randa Abdelfatta. 142 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 3: And beyond being the arts spokesperson for the Greens, Hanson 143 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 3: Young is also a Senator for South Australia, so that's 144 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 3: also why she'd be weighing in. Exactly have we heard 145 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 3: from the festival board since that initial statement. 146 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 2: We have heard quite a bit, both from organizers as 147 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,839 Speaker 2: a whole and also from several individual board members and 148 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 2: leaders within the Festival and the Writers' Week teams. On Friday, 149 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 2: I think it's easiest if I take you through this chronologically, Lucy. 150 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 2: On Friday, a joint statement from the Festival and the 151 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 2: Writer's Week welcomed community discussion on the issue and said 152 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 2: all concerns are being collated and communicated back to the 153 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 2: Adelaide Festival Board. That same day, three members stepped down. Then, separately, 154 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 2: Adelaide Festival Chair Tracy Whiting announced she would resign, effective 155 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 2: immediately on Sunday evening. In a statement, she said recent 156 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 2: decisions were bound by certain undertakings, and my resignation enables 157 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:20,079 Speaker 2: the Adelaide Festival as an organization to refresh its leadership 158 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 2: and its approach to these circumstances. But Whiting was quite vague, 159 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 2: did not really give a specific reason. 160 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't I have to say, I don't know 161 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 3: what she means by certain undertakings. 162 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 1: Has she made that clear at all? 163 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 2: No, we haven't heard anything further from Whiting on the matter. 164 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 2: I think it's also worth noting that the Writer's Week 165 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 2: program was removed from the festival website last week. The 166 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 2: event said that it did this as a temporary measure 167 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 2: quote in respect to the wishes of the writers who've 168 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 2: recently indicated their withdrawal from the festival while they work 169 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 2: through changes to the website, in their words, But ultimately 170 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 2: the list has not been on the website for several 171 00:09:58,040 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 2: days now. 172 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 3: And that brings us to this out of this week, 173 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 3: and we had another resignation right correct. 174 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 2: So the controversy surrounding the removal of this author from 175 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:12,439 Speaker 2: the Writer's Week has continued to intensify, with the director 176 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 2: of the AWW the Adelaide Writer's Week, Louise Adler, also resigning. 177 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 2: Adler is a really influential figure in Australian publishing. For 178 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 2: those who are not familiar with her, she was awarded 179 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 2: the Order of Australia Medal for Services to Literature in 180 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 2: two thousand and eight. She's also a Jewish woman and 181 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 2: the daughter of Holocaust survivors. Adler said she quit the 182 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 2: Adelaide Writer's Week because she quote cannot be party to 183 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 2: silencing writers now. In an opinion piece for The Guardian, 184 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 2: she explained writers and writing matters, even when they are 185 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 2: presenting ideas that discomfort and challenge us. We need writers 186 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 2: now more than ever. Adler claims also that she strongly 187 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 2: opposed the decision to disinvite Abdelfadder from the AWW in 188 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 2: the very first place, and said the move weekends freedom 189 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 2: of speech in Australia. So those comments really painting a 190 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 2: picture of disunity and fractions within the festival and the 191 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:10,599 Speaker 2: Writer's Week organization. 192 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, and as we've said many times on this podcast before, 193 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 3: we don't have a legal, constitutional right to freedom of 194 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,680 Speaker 3: speech in Australia. So what adlo I guess is talking 195 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 3: about is more like the cultural concept of freedom of speech. Yeah, 196 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 3: of having open discussion. 197 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 2: And particularly as it pertains to a festival of this nature, 198 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 2: the Adelaide Festival being this real arts hub, this globally 199 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 2: recognized celebration of arts and culture. 200 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, so we've seen, as you've said, a significant staff 201 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 3: departure across the festival board and in relation to Writers 202 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 3: Week specifically, where does that leave things. 203 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 2: On Monday, we heard from organizers in a post to 204 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 2: social media saying that they were quote navigating a complex 205 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 2: and unprecedented moment. They said they would share further updates 206 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 2: when they were able, and we got a significant update 207 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 2: on Tuesday, the board of the Adelaide Festival announced the 208 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 2: cancelation of the upcoming Writers Week altogether, and it also 209 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 2: issued an apology to abdel Fatter. A statement from the 210 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 2: festival said it rescinded the author's invitation originally out of 211 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 2: respect for a community experiencing what it called the pain 212 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 2: from a devastating event, referring there to the Bondi terror attack. 213 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 2: The statement goes on to say, instead, this decision has 214 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:32,719 Speaker 2: created more division and for that we express our sincere apologies. Now, 215 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 2: given the number of authors who pulled out estimated to 216 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 2: be around one hundred and eighty, the festival said it 217 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 2: just doesn't see how the event can go ahead this year, 218 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 2: and it called that a deeply regrettable outcome. The statement, 219 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 2: as I mentioned, also included an apology which said, we 220 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:52,319 Speaker 2: apologize to doctor Randa Abdelfatdter for how the decision was represented, 221 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 2: and reiterate this is not about identity or dissent, but 222 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 2: rather a continuing rapid shift in the national discourse around 223 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 2: the breadth of freedom of expression in our nation following 224 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 2: Australia's worst attack in history. Now, shortly after that statement, 225 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 2: canceling Adelaide Writers Week was shared. We did hear from 226 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 2: Abdelfatter herself. She shared a lengthy statement on her Instagram. 227 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 2: I'll just read you a short excerpt of her response, 228 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 2: which said, quote, because I have too much respect for 229 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:26,840 Speaker 2: myself and my people, for those who have suffered irreparable 230 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 2: harm by the board's conduct, for the brilliant Louise Adler, 231 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 2: who was forced on principle to resign, I refuse and 232 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 2: reject the board's apology. It is clear that the Board's 233 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 2: regret extends to how the message of my cancelation was conveyed, 234 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 2: not the decision itself. 235 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 1: So what does this mean for the future? Of the event. 236 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 2: Well, Lucy, Based on this statement, it does seem like 237 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:52,680 Speaker 2: organizers do want to regroup for next year so that 238 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 2: the writers we can return. It doesn't indicate that this 239 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,680 Speaker 2: is a permanent decision, more that there's just not enough 240 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 2: time now to recalib rate for this year. As I 241 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 2: flagged earlier, four of the seven festival board members had 242 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 2: already resigned leading up to that statement, but we now 243 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 2: know that the remaining board members will also step down. 244 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 2: The festival said that this was to quote allow for 245 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 2: an orderly transition to a new board to secure the 246 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 2: success of the twenty twenty six Adelaide Festival and beyond Now. 247 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 2: I think it's important to note the Rider's Week has 248 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 2: been canceled, but the rest of the festival program is 249 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 2: still slated to go ahead, So that includes all kinds 250 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 2: of arts and culture events, performances, live theater, music, etc. 251 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 2: But the focus now, according to the event, is on 252 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 2: ensuring a successful Adelaide Festival proceeds in a way which 253 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 2: safeguards the long and rich cultural legacy of our state, 254 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 2: but also protects the hard working staff delivering this important event. 255 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for explaining all of that, Emma, and 256 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 3: thank you so much for joining us today. We will 257 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 3: be back this evening with the headlines. Until then, have 258 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 3: a great day. 259 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 1: My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda 260 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: Bunjelung Kalkudin woman from Gadighl country. 261 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 3: The Daily oz acknowledges that this podcast is recorded on 262 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:14,920 Speaker 3: the lands of the Gadighl people and pays respect to all. 263 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 1: Aboriginal and torrest Rate island and nations. We pay our 264 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: respects to the first peoples of these countries, both past 265 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: and present.