Randa Abdel-Fattah appears to abandon threatened defamation case against SA Premier

Randa Abdel-Fattah, a Palestinian-Australian author known for her work on race, identity and colonialism, has reportedly abandoned plans to take legal action against South Australia’s premier, Peter Malinauskas. The move comes after months of tension surrounding her removal from the 2026 Adelaide Writers’ Week lineup, which sparked widespread controversy and led to the cancellation of the event. According to reports, Abdel-Fattah initially threatened to pursue defamation proceedings against Malinauskas over public comments he made regarding her during the dispute. In January, Abdel-Fattah informed the public that she had sent two concerns notices to Malinauskas concerning remarks he made about her character following her removal from the festival. At the time, Malinauskas defended his comments, stating they were based on a desire for “compassion and people treating each other civilly.” Days later, Abdel-Fattah claimed she had no choice but to send a second concerns notice, which her lawyers described as relating to comments Malinauskas made on the radio station FiveAA. Abdel-Fattah had also announced earlier this week that she had initiated separate legal action against the organisers of the 2025 Bendigo Writers Festival, where she withdrew participation due to a censorship-related dispute. In the same social media video revealing this new legal action, she stated she was no longer pursuing defamation proceedings against the SA premier. She explained that taking such action against a sitting premier carried “prohibitive cost and risk,” while acknowledging that “those of us who are committed to the decolonial recognise not all victories are won in courts.” When the ABC sought confirmation from Abdel-Fattah’s lawyer, the representative declined to provide further comment, indicating that there would be no additional statements at this time. Malinauskas responded publicly to the apparent withdrawal of legal action, expressing his support for the decision. On 891 ABC Radio Adelaide, he welcomed the news, stating, “I welcome the fact that it appears as though this court action against me has been dropped.” He reiterated his belief that individuals should be free to engage in debate at cultural events, provided they respect others’ contributions. A spokesperson for the premier later issued a statement, noting that Malinauskas had “no comment to make regarding Abdel-Fattah’s remarks” and reaffirming his commitment to promoting “civil, respectful and inclusive public debate.” The controversy began when the Adelaide Festival board decided to remove Abdel-Fattah from the 2026 Adelaide Writers’ Week program, citing her “past statements.” While the board did not specify which statements were referenced, its statement noted that it believed it would be “culturally sensitive” to include her shortly after the Bondi tragedy in December 2023. Abdel-Fattah called the decision “outrageous,” arguing that linking her to the incident was unfounded. Her removal from the festival triggered a mass boycott by authors, the resignation of the festival’s director, Louise Adler, and ultimately the cancellation of the event. The Adelaide Festival board also stepped down, marking a significant shift in the organisation’s leadership. Throughout the process, Malinauskas publicly supported the decision to exclude Abdel-Fattah from the lineup, aligning himself with the board’s stance. As the situation unfolds, the broader implications of the dispute remain unclear. While Abdel-Fattah has chosen to redirect her efforts toward legal action against the Bendigo Writers Festival organisers, the resolution of her relationship with Malinauskas and the ongoing debates around free speech and cultural sensitivity in Australian arts institutions continue to draw attention.