Library loses literary awards after ‘martyr’ blowback

By ANDREW STAFFORD

A library has lost its role managing a State’s literary awards, after an Indigenous writer was criticised for her comments about a slain Hamas leader.

Queensland Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek, pictured, sensationally made a last-minute intervention in the awards last year when he accused Adelaide-based First Nations author and poet K A Ren Wyld of “glorifying terrorism”.

Ms Wyld had been set to receive the black&write! fellowship, worth $15,000, for a manuscript that documented seven generations of stolen children.

The fellowship was part of the State Library of Queensland’s Queensland Literary Awards, which last year had a total prize pool of $261,000.

K A Red Wyld referred to slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a “martyr” in a social media post.

Mr Langbroek stepped in after Ms Wyld referred to slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a “martyr” in a social media post, which she later deleted.

The minister told parliament at the time that he had taken the decision that the award should not be presented at the state library.

A review by former Supreme Court judge Martin Daubney KC has recommended the State Library of Queensland cease its involvement in the Queensland Literary Awards on behalf of the government.

The SLQ accepted the recommendation after the review was published on Thursday.

‘Not a platform for hate’

Mr Langbroek said in a statement the SLQ was expected to “enhance its governance, policies and processes, and to better balance the priorities and expectations of Queenslanders and the Crisafulli Government”.

While creative diversity and robust debate were important, “we’ve taken decisive action to make Queensland safer”, he said.

“The Crisafulli Government unashamedly holds the position that State-owned buildings will not be a platform for hate speech,” Mr Langbroek said.

The library was working with Creative Australia to “transition” the Queensland Literary Awards to new providers, who are yet to be named, he said.

In 2012, the former LNP government led by Campbell Newman cancelled the funding of the awards, then known as the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards, on the pretext of saving taxpayer’s money.