The recent cancellation of the Adelaide Writer’s Week (AWW), and resignation and reinstatement of its Director – Louise Adler – is confusing for most Australians.

It started when a Sydney academic and Palestine activist, Randa Abdel-Fattah, was disinvited from the AWW by the Adelaide Festival Corporation Board having originally been invited by Louise Adler; 180 writers dropped out of the festival in protest, Adler resigned, Abdel-Fattah threatened to sue SA Premier Peter Malinauskas for defamation, the 2026 AWW was cancelled, the Board apologised to Abdel-Fattah (unreservedly), invited her to the 2027 AWW, and Adler was reinstated by the AF Corporation as Director.

At issue were Abdel-Fattah’s anti-Israel statements issued online, and her posting of a picture of a paratrooper in Palestinian colours (later retracted) referring to Hamas’ attack on Israel in 2023. The Adelaide Festival Corporation, and the financial backer of the AWW – the South Australian government – did not want her views aired in the wake of the 2025 Bondi terror attack that claimed 15 lives.

It’s been a schemozzle. From a communications perspective, there have been mistakes throughout this fiasco that can serve as a guide for those who have to make decisions about communications in their daily lives.

Its job, legally and best practice, is to act in the best interest of the owners. The........

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