Australian literature has often been 'co-opted by activists,' enriching it in the process. We must avoid regressing from this progress.

Attempting to remove a judge for her dedication to a cause related to her people's safety and freedom suggests a desperate effort to mute an important dissenting voice.

Last week, the State Library of New South Wales revealed the shortlists for the 2024 Premier’s Literary Awards with somewhat subdued enthusiasm. This low-key announcement, originally planned for April but postponed to May, was overshadowed by controversy involving Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah, a Muslim Palestinian Egyptian Australian academic and renowned author. She was criticized by Liberal senator Dave Sharma, who urged the premier to remove her as the chair of the judging panel for the multicultural NSW award, claiming the award had been overtaken by activists.

This controversy highlights the ongoing tension between inclusion and exclusion in Australian literature, a medium historically used to marginalize the culturally and racially diverse. Early Australian literature often depicted Indigenous people and other ethnic groups in negative ways, reinforcing stereotypes and supporting their subjugation. It wasn't until 1957, with the publication of "They’re a Weird Mob" by Nino Culotta (a pseudonym for John O’Grady), that Australian literature began to include stories of immigrants, although these often promoted assimilation.

The multicultural NSW award was created to address the lack of diversity in Australian literature and to celebrate works that contribute significantly to migration experiences or multiculturalism. Critics of the award’s current focus on activism overlook the extensive history of advocacy in literature and the rigorous process involved in literary judging.

Furthermore, several of the shortlisted authors, such as Peter Polites, Sara Saleh, André Dao, and Omar Sakr, are well-recognized and decorated in their fields, undermining claims that their recognition is solely due to ideological alignment. The criticism of Abdel-Fattah, specifically, suggests a deeper discomfort with her advocacy for her community's safety and liberation, and it risks undermining the legitimacy of all shortlisted authors.

Ultimately, this situation is a reminder of literature's powerful role in reflecting and shaping societal values and the importance of resisting a return to a less inclusive past in Australian storytelling.

Source: The Guardian