A First Nations Writer’s Fellowship Was Withdrawn by Queensland’s Government. What’s Going On?

A First Nations writer’s fellowship was withdrawn by Queensland’s government. What’s going on?

The withdrawal of Karen Wyld’s A$15,000 fellowship for a Stolen Generations novel, due to a Gaza-related tweet, is part of a recent pattern.

Sisonke Msimang Withdraws from Sydney Writers’ Festival over Airbnb’s Ties to Israeli Settlements

Award-winning South African-Australian writer and political analyst Sisonke Msimang has withdrawn from the 2025 Sydney Writers’ Festival (SWF), citing the event’s sponsorship by Airbnb, a company that operates in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). The festival, scheduled to run from May 19 to 27, is one of Australia’s most prominent literary events, […]

State Library of Queensland withdraws $15,000 Fellowship from First Nations writer over Gaza post

Fellowship cancellation by State Library of Queensland raises questions about artistic freedom, political interference and the future of First Nations literary awards