Adelaide University has cancelled a literary festival event featuring Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, sparking accusations of censorship and raising concerns about academic freedom. The event, part of the “Constellations: Not Writers’ Week” festival, was scheduled for Thursday night at the university’s Elder Hall but was moved to Norwood Concert Hall after the university cited procedural issues with the booking.
The cancellation comes after the original Adelaide Writers’ Week faced controversy following the removal of Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from its lineup, leading to the creation of Constellations as an alternative platform for diverse voices. Albanese, a human rights lawyer, was slated to discuss “settler colonialism” alongside academics Professor Henry Reynolds and Dr. Lana Tatour via video link. The move has ignited a debate about the influence of external pressures on university spaces and the ability to host discussions on sensitive geopolitical issues.
University Cites Procedural Issues, Organizers Dispute Claim
Adelaide University stated it was only made aware of the event last Friday and that the booking “did not proceed in accordance with due process,” lacking the required review and approval. According to a statement from the university, this left them “with no other choice other than to advise the organisers that it could not provide the necessary support.” However, the Association for the Promotion of International Law (APIL), the event organizers, strongly dispute this claim, stating they contacted the university on February 3rd and worked with Elder Hall management for weeks before submitting a formal booking on February 20th. “At no stage, until early this week, were any issues of due process raised,” an APIL spokesperson said.
The university offered the organizers the National Wine Centre as an alternative venue, but at a significantly higher cost – $23,500 compared to the $750 fee for Elder Hall. This offer, according to critics, suggests a deliberate attempt to price out the event.
Concerns Over US Sanctions and External Pressure
The cancellation follows a report in The Australian suggesting that hosting Albanese could potentially violate US sanctions. Albanese was placed on the US Treasury’s sanctions list in July 2023 by the Trump administration, with then-Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing her of “lawfare” and “political and economic warfare” against US and Israeli interests, alleging she had “spewed unabashed antisemitism, expressed support for terrorism, and open contempt for the United States, Israel, and the West.” The Guardian reports the event organizers have accused the university of bowing to media pressure.
Chris Sidoti, a member of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel and the event’s facilitator, dismissed the sanctions argument as an attempt to “intimidate,” noting that Albanese frequently speaks at universities globally without issue. “For Adelaide University to crumble in fear of possible criticism by imposing a regime of censorship in Australia is reprehensible,” Sidoti stated. “A university incapable of upholding free speech no longer merits to be called a university.”
Reaction and Broader Implications
Louise Adler, the former director of Adelaide Writers’ Week who participated in another Constellations event on Sunday, sharply criticized the decision, stating, “Welcome once again to Moscow on the Torrens.” Adler argued that universities, arts organizations, and the media are increasingly facing pressure from “sectional groups” and politicians, leading to a narrowing of acceptable discourse.
The incident has drawn criticism from Greens Senator for South Australia, Sarah Hanson-Young, who called for an explanation from the university, stating the reports are “concerning.” Mirage News reported on Hanson-Young’s statement.
Adelaide University maintains it “prides itself on being a place where event attendees are welcomed and where the exchange of ideas can happen freely.” However, critics argue this cancellation demonstrates a chilling effect on open debate and academic inquiry.
The event has now been relocated to Norwood Concert Hall, with organizers working to accommodate the 650 ticket holders. The discussion on settler colonialism is still scheduled to proceed as planned, albeit in a different venue. The incident raises questions about the future of free speech and academic independence within Australian universities and the extent to which external political pressures can influence institutional decisions.
What comes next will likely involve further scrutiny of Adelaide University’s event approval processes and a continued debate about the balance between academic freedom and external pressures. The university has not indicated whether it will review its procedures in light of this controversy. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
