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mejmo.bsky.social
@mejmo.bsky.social
23 followers 13 following 10 posts
Kaurna lands
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mejmo.bsky.social
www.instagram.com/p/DTg0aABk07...
Dillons Bookshop on Instagram: "Writers’ Week has long been an important event for South Australia and the literary community, especially for authors and readers across a broad and diverse audience. 1...
132 likes, 2 comments - dillonsbookshop on January 14, 2026: "Writers’ Week has long been an important event for South Australia and the literary community, especially for authors and readers across a...
www.instagram.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:31 AM
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barbarapocock.bsky.social
Artists & citizens standing up against racism, political interference & censorship works. Pressure works. We owe great thanks to readers, writers & leaders of Writers Week 2026. I hope a turning point in the racist pile on we have witnessed. We await the Premier’s apology.
January 15, 2026 at 1:00 AM
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ezrantsdaily.bsky.social
Nunga Up!
January 14, 2026 at 11:27 PM
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janeannehoward.bsky.social
Full Adelaide Festival statement:
The Adelaide Festival Corporation published a statement [...] We retract that statement. We have reversed the decision and will reinstate Dr Abdel-Fattah’s invitation to speak at the next Adelaide Writers’ Week in 2027. We apologise to Dr Abdel-Fattah unreservedly for the harm the Adelaide Festival Corporation has caused her. Intellectual and artistic freedom is a powerful human right. Our goal is to uphold it, and in this instance Adelaide Festival Corporation fell well short. [...] The new Adelaide Festival Board would like to reassure the people of South Australia it is thoroughly committed to the successful delivery of Adelaide Festival 2026. We wish to apologise to Louise Adler AM that the incredible program she had worked hard to curate for 2026 has been cancelled as a result of the events that have unfolded over the last week after the announcement of the decision to rescind the invitation to Dr Abdel-Fattah. We acknowledge the principled stand she took in the extremely difficult decision to resign from her role as Director. Louise is a revered figure of Australian literature who we hold in the highest regard. Her contributions to, and stewardship of, Adelaide Writers’ Week in the time she has been the Director (2023 – 2025) have been outstanding. We wish also to convey the warm affection of the staff for Louise and their gratitude for her strong convictions. The Board has decided that the former decision to establish a subcommittee of the Board to review Adelaide Writers’ Week operational decisions is rescinded. We commit to the curatorial independence of the Director of Adelaide Writers’ Week while noting the Board’s overarching responsibility for a well-delivered event of the highest quality. We understand that many in the community are urging reconsideration of the cancellation of Adelaide Writers’ Week in 2026. While we fervently share that desire, our informed assessment of the situation is that it is simply no longer viable for it to proceed. We are determined that Adelaide Writers’ Week will rise again and our energies will be directed to that mission. We are thankful for the many messages of support from within the Adelaide Festival community to assist in the coming weeks and months. We acknowledge and are grateful that the Premier Peter Malinauskas and Minister for Arts Andrea Michaels have taken swift action to appoint a new Board enabling us to rapidly re-set and continue our work in delivering Matt’s outstanding program. We also appreciate the Premier’s consistent position that the curatorial choices of Adelaide Festival, including Adelaide Writers’ Week, are at the discretion of the organisation. We thank you for your patience through this period and will be further in touch with more information as we are able. Yours sincerely, Julian Hobba Executive Director
January 15, 2026 at 12:45 AM
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jennifermills.net.au
For goodness’ sake Pete stop digging and start apologising
He said he did not "take responsibility for" AWW's cancellation. "That's a function of a bunch of authors making their own decisions and Louise Adler and her role in that," Mr Malinauskas said.
January 14, 2026 at 9:55 AM
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wendyharmer.bsky.social
"Australia, in its own pissant, toytown way... In the wake of Bondi, we’re embarking on a full-scale assault on free speech." @keanebernard.bsky.social www.crikey.com.au/2026/01/14/a...
In Australia's tinpot civil society, 'power speech' is on the cusp of defeating free speech
Free speech in Australia is under attack from multiple directions. And its assailant is power speech: the right of the powerful to dictate terms to and attack those with less power.
www.crikey.com.au
January 14, 2026 at 2:37 AM
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jendn.bsky.social
Imagine you were about to appear at a writers' festival to talk about your first book... then the whole thing fell apart.

I wanted to find debut authors who almost talked at Adelaide Writers' Week. These are 21 folks I've identified so far but *please* let me know who I've missed or mixed up.
A list of 21 debut authors who almost appeared at a writers’ festival.
January 14, 2026 at 8:09 AM
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jennifermills.net.au
As someone who has participated in efforts to get the SA premier to understand arts and culture since he was elected, this moment - Malinauskas looking lost in a crisis of his own making - has an eerie inevitability about it
January 14, 2026 at 1:46 AM
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marquelawyers.com.au
The Albo government's antisemitism bill is a rushed hatchet job. Nobody has proper time to consider it carefully enough, and it will have all sorts of unintended consequences if passed. It is the worst kind of law-making: moral panic induced, pandering to powerful lobby groups' demands.
January 13, 2026 at 9:40 PM
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janeannehoward.bsky.social
Apologies for the X link, but this is the only version of the press conference I could find. x.com/7NewsAdelaid...
7NEWS Adelaide on X: "Arts minister Andrea Michaels provides an update on the Adelaide Festival after the cancellation of Writers' Week. https://t.co/wuhLLtZqO6" / X
Arts minister Andrea Michaels provides an update on the Adelaide Festival after the cancellation of Writers' Week. https://t.co/wuhLLtZqO6
x.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:36 AM
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janeannehoward.bsky.social
Very strong new look board for Adelaide Festival. Could still have an artist, a young person and more diversity – but good shepherds for now. www.indailysa.com.au/news/just-in...
Arts leader, newsreader and finance guru take over Adelaide Festival Board - News | InDaily, Inside South Australia
The Reserve Bank has left the cash rate unchanged at a record low of 2 per cent.
www.indailysa.com.au
January 13, 2026 at 7:18 AM
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janeannehoward.bsky.social
why on earth does the abc publish stories like this ('During an impassioned appearance on 7.30') without embedding the video? ditto for when they create news articles from radio interviews. surely it should/could all be integrated? www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
'Act of cultural vandalism': Adler attacks censors over Writers' Week scandal
Former Adelaide Writers' Week director says the reputation of the event has been "trashed" as she took aim at lobby groups and the SA Premier during an intense appearance on 7.30.
www.abc.net.au
January 13, 2026 at 8:53 AM
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kayawanu.bsky.social
Malinauskus and his racist anti Palestinian attitude is unfit to be Premier. He has smeared Adelaide with the stench of Genocide, destroyed an institution, and emboldened fascists and destroyed social cohesion. Malinauskus committed a hate crime and Madelaine King backed him up.
amyremeikis.bsky.social Amy Remeikis @amyremeikis.bsky.social · 2d
Adelaide Festival is done - and the rest of the board has stepped down
January 13, 2026 at 3:45 AM
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beneltham.bsky.social
A whole bunch of artists and cultural workers have lost work because of the implosion of Adelaide Writers week — writers, producers, stage crew, front of house. None of this was their fault. Something for the Labor premier to think about
January 13, 2026 at 5:48 AM
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sociablesocialist.bsky.social
He’s not “the left”
The arsehole is 💯 neoliberal/centrist.
He devolved out of the SDA (which is conservative Catholic in SA) filling Senator Farrell’s shoes as secretary after Farrell went to Canberra
January 13, 2026 at 5:29 AM
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michellefahy.bsky.social
Another flagrant flouting of the rule requiring a 12mth gap between a Defence job and a shift into the arms industry

Jeremy King headed Defence's arms buying group's Joint Aviation Systems in December. Now he's CEO of Lockheed Martin Aust #revolvingdoor

www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/je...
Jeremy King to helm Lockheed Martin Australia - Australian Defence Magazine
Lockheed Martin has announced that Jeremy King, former head of Joint Aviation Systems for Defence Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, will assume the role of chief executive for Australia an...
www.australiandefence.com.au
January 13, 2026 at 4:08 AM
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ingridm.bsky.social
we have reached the man tears stage of the political fuck up cycle. In my observation, man politicians only cry for themselves, which would suggest he is getting factional pressure.

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
'I do my best to settle my conscience': SA Premier becomes emotional at press conference
South Australian Premier Peter Malinaukas has become tearful during a media conference where he faced extensive questions about the crisis surrounding Adelaide Writers' Week (AWW) and allegations of h...
www.abc.net.au
January 13, 2026 at 3:11 AM
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barbarapocock.bsky.social
A disaster for our writers, readers, our reputation as a festival state & a massive economic blow to SA in a tough time for so many. Own goal for a Premier who - despite his denials - exerted pressure on a body legally established to be independent. Shocking failure of judgement.
January 13, 2026 at 4:02 AM
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instanterudite.bsky.social
The 2026 Adelaide Writers' Week has officially been cancelled. Well done to the Board of the Festival and the Premier of South Australia for this devastating outcome.
January 13, 2026 at 3:49 AM
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waltermarsh.bsky.social
Some reflections on Adelaide Writers' Week from this Adelaide writer. Deep disappointment all round, and some big questions:

www.indailysa.com.au/news/opinion...
'If it was the board’s decision, why did half its members resign?': Boycotting author reflects on Writers' Week wake - News | InDaily, Inside South Australia
Author and InReview editor Walter Marsh tells how Writers' Week furore leaves "our small literary pond feeling just as toxic" as algal bloom.
www.indailysa.com.au
January 13, 2026 at 2:41 AM
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janeannehoward.bsky.social
Beautiful piece from @waltermarsh.bsky.social on the particular heartache felt by Adelaide writers www.indailysa.com.au/news/opinion...
'If it was the board’s decision, why did half its members resign?': Boycotting author reflects on Writers' Week wake - News | InDaily, Inside South Australia
Author and InReview editor Walter Marsh tells how Writers' Week furore leaves "our small literary pond feeling just as toxic" as algal bloom.
www.indailysa.com.au
January 13, 2026 at 2:32 AM
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cathywilcox.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 10:09 PM
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janeannehoward.bsky.social
To step out of the arts and media bubble, it's interesting to see what is happening over on r/adelaide – support of Alder, anger at Malinauskas and the board, disappointment for what's happened to AWW www.reddit.com/r/Adelaide/c...
From the Adelaide community on Reddit: I cannot be party to silencing writers, which is why I am resigning as director of Adelaide Writers’ Week | Louise Adler
Explore this post and more from the Adelaide community
www.reddit.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:39 AM
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ingridm.bsky.social
“art in the service of social cohesion is propaganda”: Louise Adler standing tall as always. What a legend✊🏼❤️

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I cannot be party to silencing writers, which is why I am resigning as director of Adelaide Writers’ Week | Louise Adler
Cancelling the Australian Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah weakens freedom of speech and is the harbinger of a less free nation
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:49 PM
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ingridm.bsky.social
killing women by males who know us continues unabated as politicians draft laws to silence those of us who stand against lethal, hate-fuelled violence.

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Investigation underway after woman found dead at Logan home
An investigation is underway after a woman was found dead at a house in Buccan, south of Brisbane.
www.abc.net.au
January 12, 2026 at 11:09 AM