Published: 19 August 2025
Last updated: 19 August 2025
As an author and a journalist, I’ve appeared at many writers festivals. Here, in no particular order, are a list of things I’ve said that might be considered offensive to some:
“Australia is an inherently racist country, built on a foundation of disenfranchisement, genocide and theft."
"Our health system and the medical research space is intrinsically misogynistic and racist, and results in the worst outcomes for our most marginalised communities."
"Toddlers would make excellent politicians because they both lie to your face (with a few exceptions)."
"Mistakes were made in the founding of the state of Israel which require reparations and truth-telling.”
You don’t have to agree with me on any of these topics, but we live in a country where I am free to say these things. You don’t have to read my work, attend panels on which I’m speaking or engage with me on social media. That’s fine. But it won’t stop me speaking or writing my truth, nor should it stop you from doing the same.
Bendigo Writers Festival became the centre of a free speech controversy last week when more than 50 writers and hosts withdrew by Friday afternoon, leading to 21 sessions being cancelled and a further eight affected. The crisis followed a decision by the Bendigo City Council to issue a code of conduct to writers two days before the festival's opening night gala. The gala was cancelled, but the truncated festival went ahead last weekend.
Consider the following statements directly taken from the code of conduct, which I have read in full:
