Dear editor,
Ian Macgowan, your very active correspondent from Ceduna, won publication of five letters in the January 22 edition of the Advocate. As a writer I could take issue with most of Mr Macgowan’s contributions, but one in particular stirs my blood.
In it he praises the previous board of Adelaide Festival’s Writers’ Week for ‘reading the room’ and exercising the ‘courage of their convictions’ to ban distinguished Australian/Palestinian academic and writer Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, on the grounds of ‘cultural sensitivity’ in the aftermath of the Bondi massacre.
‘Reading the room’ is probably a euphemism for responding to political pressure.
That probably came from Premier Peter Malinauskas, who, while admitting support for the board’s decision, claimed to wield no influence over the supposedly independent body – a totally disingenuous position. And who knows what lobby group pressure he was under.
As I’m sure Mr Macgowan knows by now events moved fast because the board’s decision was not unanimous, was made before Bondi, and dissenting board members ultimately resigned, exercising the ‘courage of their convictions’.
The chair of the board soon followed and after that the very distinguished director of the festival, Louise Adler, who happens to be Jewish, also resigned, acting with the ‘courage of her convictions’ thus retaining her integrity.
By then of course well over one hundred of Australia’s most loved and respected writers, along with international counterparts, had pulled out of the festival in protest at the blatant political interference on the grounds of dubious concepts such as ‘cultural safety’.
It would take much more than this letter to unpick what that really means and to whom it applies.
The elephant in the room of course is Israel’s war on Gaza, in which the killings continue daily, despite a so-called ceasefire.
So far in the region of 70,000 Palestinians have been killed, the Israeli Government is accused of genocide by the International Criminal Court, and PM Netanyahu is wanted for war crimes.
Dr Abdel-Fatah has expressed strong opinions about the behaviour of the Israeli Government.
Hardly surprising I would suggest and many all over the world, including many Jewish people, agree with her.
I have Israeli friends myself who said to me long ago that their government had lost its mind and its humanity.
For those who are tempted to respond with a simplistic binary argument, nor does making these points in any way justify the Hamas terrorist attack of October 2023.
Mr Macgowan concludes his letter with the most extraordinary contradiction – he seems to recognise the value and importance of free speech which most would realise is not absolute but then goes on to declare, ‘we cannot ignore any inappropriate views or opinions under the guise of mere literature and have the questioning of them labelled as censorship’.
This breathtaking statement begs so many questions. Who decides what is ‘appropriate’?
I’m sure Mr Macgowan would love to, but… his dismissal of the work of scores of distinguished writers due to attend the festival as ‘mere literature’, is hubris of the first order.
The freedom for all to express opinions is a cornerstone of democracy, but that does not mean that all opinions are equal.
Opinions can be misinformed, ill-informed and mischievous, or founded in facts, understanding and honesty.
In my opinion Mr Macgowan’s opinions about the Writers’ Week debacle fall much closer to the former than the latter criteria.
The rapid reappointment of a completely new board who offered Dr Abdel-Fattah an unconditional apology and a renewed invitation to Writers’ Week 2027 says it all about the blunder the Premier and the original board made.
The tragedy is that Writers’ Week, one of the most civilised, socially cohesive, and cherished gatherings of its kind in the world, which attracts many thousands of people every year, is lost for this year, and possibly tarnished for longer.
No one’s cultural safety has been protected, certainly not that of Dr Abdel-Fattah, thousands of writing enthusiasts are disappointed, to say nothing of the economic loss, something I am sure Premier Malinauskas regrets.
There is no question that this whole debacle was founded in political censorship, which is a typical feature of authoritarianism – witness the United States under Trump.
Thank goodness there are plenty of people in Australia, and especially connected with the Adelaide Festival, that recognise this and will not tolerate it.
Nick Carroll, Streaky Bay
Party has lost its way
Dear editor,
Once a proud, unified and focused political power in Australian politics, the Liberal Party has now been overtaken by One Nation as the preferred opposition party.
This continuing decline of the Liberals’ primary vote can be directly attributed to a combination of internal divisions, shifting voter priorities and growing disconnection from key demographics.
Leadership instability and ideological infighting have significantly undermined the party’s ability to present a unified vision, while policy positions on issues such as climate change, gender equality, and social welfare have resulted in growing disenchantment among younger and more progressive voters.
At the same time, when ditching many long-held values and beliefs, they have been accused by many, voters included, of being ‘Labor Lite’ as they have attempted to match some of their policies rather than present alternatives.
Additionally, the rise of independent and minor party candidates has eroded their traditional bases of support, particularly in urban and suburban electorates.
As Australia’s political landscape continues to evolve, the Liberal Party faces the challenge of redefining its identity and reconnecting with a broader cross-section of the electorate to remain relevant in modern Australian politics.
At the moment, Australia urgently needs a strong and effective opposition that holds the current government to account and presents itself as an alternative, which the Liberals are failing miserably to do.
Ian Macgowan, Ceduna
Support impacted kids
As Australian children return to school, hundreds will not.
Their desks sit empty as they fight blood cancer – the single biggest disease threatening the lives of school-aged children in Australia today.
This year alone, around 350 children will be diagnosed with blood cancer.
It now accounts for more than one in three childhood cancers, yet remains a largely hidden national tragedy.
A blood cancer diagnosis is sudden and brutal. Children are forced out of classrooms and into hospital wards, enduring aggressive treatment that can last years.
Many miss 40 to 60 per cent of school in their first year alone, with some absent for up to 18 months.
The impacts on learning, wellbeing and social development are profound and long-lasting.
Over the past two decades, blood cancer incidence among children aged five to 14 has risen by almost 30 per cent.
If this trend continues, more than 400 children a year could face this devastating diagnosis within the next decade.
At the Leukaemia Foundation, we see the toll this takes on children and families every day – emotionally, financially and socially.
While we provide vital accommodation, transport, education and support services, and invest in life-saving research, we cannot do it alone.
As the World’s Greatest Shave launches nationally, I urge Australians to stand with these children and all Australians impacted by blood cancer.
Participating by shaving, cutting or colouring your hair helps ensure no person faces blood cancer without support.
Register to participate in the World’s Greatest Shave at worldsgreatestshave.com or call 1800 500 088.
Chris Tanti, Leukaemia Foundation chief executive officer
