Three Adelaide Festival board members resign after author Randa Abdel‑Fattah removed

Three members of the Adelaide Festival board — journalist Daniela Ritorto, businesswoman Donny Walford and lawyer Nick Linke — resigned this weekend after the board cancelled Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel‑Fattah’s appearance at the 2026 Writers’ Week. The departures followed the withdrawal of more than 70 participants from next month’s festival events.

It remains unclear how the board will be able to reach a quorum, a situation that could limit its legal authority to make decisions for the 2026 event. Under the Adelaide Festival Corporation Act 1998 the board must meet strict gender composition rules. With Linke’s resignation only one man, Adelaide airport managing director Brenton Cox, remains on the board; the act requires a minimum of two men and two women.

The board has made no public comment since announcing Abdel‑Fattah’s cancellation. In its public statement the board said it had been “shocked and saddened by the tragic events at Bondi” and that, while it did not suggest Abdel‑Fattah or her writings had any connection to the tragedy, it had formed the view that her past statements made it “not culturally sensitive” to proceed.

Abdel‑Fattah accused the board of “blatant and shameless” anti‑Palestinian racism and censorship and said the attempt to associate her with the Bondi massacre was “despicable”.

Key Topics

Culture, Randa Abdel-fattah, Adelaide Festival, Writers' Week, Daniela Ritorto, Donny Walford