Overview
- Randa Abdel‑Fattah’s lawyers issued a formal concerns notice to Premier Peter Malinauskas over remarks she says defamed her, initiating the required pre‑court process.
- Malinauskas defended his comments as compassionate, said they are on the public record, and denied directing the festival board to remove Abdel‑Fattah.
- This legal step follows the event’s cancellation after about 180 scheduled authors withdrew in protest at Abdel‑Fattah’s disinvitation.
- The board had removed her saying it "would not be culturally sensitive" so soon after the Bondi massacre, later apologised, and Abdel‑Fattah rejected the apology as disingenuous.
- Following mass resignations, director Louise Adler quit citing pressure on free speech, and the state appointed a new Adelaide Festival board to stabilise the organisation.