An Australian publisher has scrapped a children's book due to comments made by the book's illustrator regarding the tragic Bondi beach shooting, which the publisher claims violates its policy against antisemitism.
This decision has prompted several prominent Australian writers to sever their relationships with The University of Queensland Press (UQP) and has sparked accusations of political censorship.
Thousands of copies were already printed for 'Bila, A River Cycle', an Indigenous children's book co-written by poet Jazz Money and illustrated by Matt Chun. Chun published an essay critiquing public responses to the Bondi shooting on his public Substack newsletter in January.
The shooting, which occurred during a Jewish festival on December 14, left fifteen victims dead, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger. Chun's commentary criticized the “Australian left” for its responses and also called out Chabad and Schlanger for supporting Israel's military actions.
UQP stated that Chun's comments were 'abhorrent and hateful' and indicated that the university cannot proceed without endorsing or associating with such remarks. They also expressed regret over the decision's impact on Jazz Money, noting their desire to work together in the future. Copies of the book are currently in storage while recycling options are being considered.
As the dust settles from this controversy, Chun has raised concerns over UQP's failure to specify which components of his writings contradicted its policies. Meanwhile, Jazz Money expressed that the cancellation sets a worrying precedent for future politically sensitive works and deemed her relationship with UQP 'now over.'
Prominent Australian writers, including Evelyn Araluen and Randa Abdel-Fattah, have publicly denounced UQP's actions, leading to a growing boycott against the publisher, which has been in operation since 1948 and is known for its diverse literary contributions.
