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The news
Queensland’s literary awards have been hit by delays after the major cultural event lost more than one-third of its judges following ministerial intervention to torpedo a separate First Nations fellowship early in the year.
The awards, supported by the state government via Arts Queensland and the state library, were slated to reveal shortlisted entries on August 5 – the same week library chief Vicki McDonald shared detail of the record judge exodus.
Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek said in August that if people “choose not to be judges again, we will find other judges”.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
No update has been shared by the awards or library, which manages them, since. Its website had noted dates including a planned September 12 announcement of winners, but now states only that shortlists “will be announced soon”.
Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek confirmed on Saturday the winners, sharing in more than $200,000 worth of prize money, career development and publishing opportunities across 11 categories, would instead be announced on September 26.
Why it matters
In May, Langbroek raised concerns with library leaders on two occasions before intervening to stop a fellowship going to Adelaide-based author K.A. Ren Wyld, whom he accused in parliament of “glorifying terrorism”.
The decision, centred around a since deleted social media post praising slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, was welcomed by the state’s peak Jewish body amid national debate about antisemitism and speech relating to Israel’s alleged genocide in Gaza.
Four literary award judges subsequently announced they would resign in protest of the intervention. During an August 7 parliamentary hearing, McDonald confirmed 12 of 34 judges ultimately quit, but did not mention the already missed shortlist date.
An independent review, said not to impact awards, will report to the board this month. Langbroek has defended his decision, vowing to do so again “if it’s deemed necessary” and dismissing resignations because “we will find other judges”.
Two development award categories feature standard conditions blocking entrants from sending work to other publishers or competitions until 12 weeks after the announcement of shortlisted entries.
What they said
In response to questions from this masthead on Saturday, Langbroek confirmed he had recently been briefed by his department about the shortlist and winners.
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“I look forward to these being announced as planned on 26 September,” Langbroek said in a statement.
Comment was sought from the library. A spokesperson told this masthead in late July the awards would “go ahead as planned”.
Another perspective
Wyld told Guardian Australia in May her post bore no relevance to the Stolen Generations manuscript which garnered her the withdrawn fellowship, conceding she could have chosen her words better but was “really devastated at the Albanese government’s approach to the whole [Gaza] situation”.
At the time, the Australian Society of Authors said it intended to write to the government calling for “a strong stance on freedom of expression and independent arts funding processes”.
Langbroek has said his government would always defend freedom of speech, but said this did not “extend to celebrating murder and violence, nor does it absolve individuals from the consequences of eroding public confidence or support”.
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