Palestinian-Australian author and academic Randa Abdel-Fattah has initiated defamation proceedings against South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas, following public comments he made that she alleges linked her to a recent terror attack.
Festival Disinvitation Sparks Controversy
The dispute originates from the decision by the Adelaide Festival board to disinvite Ms Abdel-Fattah from its Adelaide Writers Week programme on 8 January 2026. The board stated that including her would not be "culturally sensitive" so soon after the antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach the previous month, which killed 15 people and wounded dozens.
The board explicitly noted there was no suggestion Ms Abdel-Fattah or her work had any connection to the tragedy. However, the decision triggered a massive backlash, resulting in the resignation of the entire festival board, the withdrawal of over 180 writers, the loss of at least one sponsor, and the eventual cancellation of the event.
Premier's Comments Prompt Legal Threat
The situation escalated when Premier Peter Malinauskas commented on the controversy during a press conference on Tuesday 13 January 2026. When asked to justify his support for the author's removal, he posed a hypothetical scenario involving a "far-right Zionist" attacking a mosque and then speaking at the festival.
Ms Abdel-Fattah accused the premier of using this analogy to suggest she was an "extreme terrorist sympathiser" and to directly link her to the Bondi atrocity. In a statement shared on social media, she described his remarks as a "vicious personal assault" that terrified her, a private citizen.
Defamation Concerns Notice Issued
In response, Ms Abdel-Fattah's legal team issued a formal concerns notice to Mr Malinauskas under Australian defamation law. She stated the premier had made numerous public statements about her character without ever having met or contacted her.
"Enough is enough. I am a human being, not a punching bag," she wrote. "This is his opportunity to undo some of the harm he has inflicted and stop punching down."
When questioned, Mr Malinauskas said he was unaware if the notice had been received and defended his conduct. He claimed all his remarks and actions were "founded in a desire for compassion and people treating each other civilly."
