Bookish in Bendigo have pulled out as Bendigo Writers Festival's bookseller - this principled move comes at great cost to them as an independent store. If you've been thinking of purchasing a book (esp. one by someone who's also pulled labour from BWF), consider going to them! +61 3 5406 0596

It would be hard to conjure a more unhelpful figure than Segal to lead the fight against anti-semitism than a former NAB bank director, for over 2 decades during which time the bank admitted to misconduct, schemes involving bribery, forgery and general corporate grifting.

Let’s hope that the current government does not yield to this massive over reach . Even if you are so blinkered as to be only concerned with Jewish issues, exceptionalising Jews will foster antisemitism rather than defeat it . www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Imagine the public outcry and Murdoch media beat-up if Australia allowed the China lobby to define sinophobia then enacted censorship on the PRC's behalf. Yet that's exactly what's happening with Israel and antisemitism.

It's now open to non Indigenous signatories. Awww I love writers and other creative peeps xxxx

below is the brief acceptance speech I was going to give on Tuesday, but instead my Fellowship was rescinded a few hours before the award ceremony:- I acknowledge that I’m speaking on the unceded lands of Turrbal, Yuggera and Jagerra peoples and pay my respect to their Elders, past and present. 1/

Powerful Stella prize speech from Michelle de Kretser: “In Australia today it isn’t those applauding mass murder who have cause to be afraid, but those speaking out against it. Principally targeted are Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, First Nations people, people of colour, queers.”

The day author Ren Wyld was due to receive the Black & Write $15k Indigenous fellowship she was told it had been rescinded. A journo from the Oz seemed to know before she did. Appalling to see QLD govt cave to Murdoch press to punish a First Nations writer for speaking out in support of Palestine.

What a great #essay. For me, the escalating destruction of our #ecosystem is the great horror of our times, notwithstanding our enforced complicity in the current round of crimes against humanity. And as for asking why #reading is essential - it's a bit like asking why thinking is essential. 🤯

How I admire people who can write like this.

"In spite of all this, at no time over the last 18 mths have I felt that writing fiction was a waste of time". Finally got to @lukehorton.bsky.social's great essay on meaningfully engaging with this world through writing (& reading) overland.org.au/2025/05/book...

'...while Israelis continue to slaughter Palestinians in their thousands — and we have awoken each morning to new unbelievably horrific scenes that can never be scrubbed from our memories — literally no-one in power is doing anything to stop it. No-one.' All I care about today, as we vote.

In response to the prompt of a publisher's campaign, Luke Horton offers an extended reflection on the value of literature and the work of writing (and reading) in the current moment.

“In both Gaza and Australia, genocide only happens to white people. The rest are either collateral damage or painted as liars — Windschuttle helped make sure of that.” Sam Ryan on the passing of “one of our worst thinkers.”

I reviewed @lukehorton.bsky.social's excellent new novel, Time Together for @meanjin.bsky.social. My response to it can be summarised as 'hard relate'. Thanks @mxcreant.bsky.social

'I've been longing for an Australian novel like this: one riffling through the feeling of being forty-something in the 2020s—uncertainty and faint regret around careers or relationships, clocking the exodus of youth from the body...' Ty @meanjin.bsky.social and @dionkagan.bsky.social

Islamophobia and antisemitism — why they are a shared challenge, not a competition #AusPol www.abc.net.au/religion/der...

The term ‘antisemitism’ is being weaponised and stripped of meaning – and that’s incredibly dangerous www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

When I described Israelis hunting Palestinian children for sport I was not exaggerating or being purposefully outrageous. It is literally what the IDF is doing in Gaza. They are actually, literally, shooting civilians for fun. www.instagram.com/p/DDxdPV1v1BN

'Writers – and everyone else – must take sides, irrespective of the sensitivities they offend. We have no choice. Gaza is not safe, and neither is the world that allows Gaza to happen.' Great piece by @jeffsparrow1.bsky.social

Beautiful new writing from @jenniferdown.bsky.social 💙