ABC chief backs reporters after Adelaide Writers Week boycott

ABC chief Hugh Marks has defended reporters who boycotted the Adelaide Writers Festival, saying they did not do it to support controversial author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah.

An invitation to the Palestinian-Australian author was revoked by the festival board in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack owing to “cultural sensitivity”, prompting a mass withdrawal of participants and ultimately the cancellation of the entire 2026 event.

Liberal senator Sarah Henderson attacked the ABC over its employees who participated in the boycott during Senate estimates on Tuesday afternoon.

She said it was “completely inappropriate” given previous comments by Dr Abdel-Fattah.

“They weren’t withdrawing because their grandmother was sick,” Senator Henderson told Mr Marks.

“They were withdrawing because they were joining the boycott in support of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, and while others may choose to do so, in the case of ABC staff – where there are very strong obligations of impartiality – we put to you that they were not demonstrating impartiality in relation to their conduct.”

Mr Marks said each “individual will have their own reasons” to have pulled out of the event.

Addressing a comment by 7.30 presenter Sarah Ferguson, Mr Marks said she instead talked “more about the politicisation of the event”.

“It certainly doesn’t say anything about the particular author that you’ve been discussing or support for that author. It talks about the politicisation event,” he said.

“So, surely, principles of freedom of speech, interference, interference and creative debate – these are principles that journalists are entitled to stand up.”

ABC editorial director Gavin Fang said it was unfair to infer a reason for the boycott from an open letter by staff, or through social media comments.

“I, unfortunately, disagree that somebody not commenting, or somebody making a comment on social media where they’ve said they are withdrawing, indicates that they have taken a position supporting the comments of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah,” he told the inquiry.

He continued: “In this particular case, those reporters have not provided in those public statements any motivation for why they choose to withdraw and so it’s not possible to infer just from their public statements.”

Senator Henderson shot back: “Well, that is just wrong. Factually wrong”.

Dr Abdel-Fattah has said the decision to remove her was “racist”, and has since been invited to the 2027 event.

She will also appear at a separate event in Adelaide, as well as the Newcastle Writers Festival.