Brisbane Writers’ Festival ‘disinvites’ Bob Carr, Germaine Greer
THE Brisbane Writers’ Festival has rejected suggestions that the axing of two controversial guests amounts to censorship.
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UNDER conservative former premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen Queensland had a reputation as a wowser state, but a decision by the Brisbane Writers’ Festival to withdraw invitations to big-name authors Germaine Greer and Bob Carr has reignited debate about censorship.
Melbourne University Press sources said invitations had been issued and contracts signed for this year’s Brisbane Writers’ Festival, which runs September 6-9, but had now been withdrawn.
The Courier-Mail has sighted contracts issued to Carr, Greer and ABC journalist Marian Wilkinson.
In an exclusive interview, former NSW Labor premier and author Bob Carr told The Courier-Mail he didn’t know why Queensland didn’t want him.
“I like Brisbane, my wife likes Brisbane, my brother and sister-in-law live there, why won’t they have me at their festival?” he said.
“I tried to write a book bristling with ideas and arguments, which is what I thought writers’ festivals wanted.”
Mr Carr was one of a number of prominent Australians who spoke out this week against rampant political correctness.
He earlier suggested he had been axed from the festival for being too controversial.
His new book, a political memoir called Run For Your Life, covers his travels in Europe, his attitude to Israel (mixed) and America’s decline, but the one-time journalist said he had worked hard to make it readable and persuasive.
He said he “welcomed the opportunity with Germaine Greer and Philip Adams of putting my case, no-holds-barred”.
Greer and Carr’s publisher, Melbourne University Press, has now organised its own mini-festival with a one-night-only event on September 7, to be held during the main festival. Hosted by ABC Radio National host Philip Adams, the event is titled Uncensored: Greer & Carr.
Melbourne University Press CEO Louise Adler told The Courier-Mail that writers’ festivals were supposed to provoke audiences to “think anew”, and that they should be the reverse of “safe spaces.”
Greer will discuss her new book, On Rape, in her only Queensland appearance.
Brisbane Writers’ Festival acting CEO Ann McLean said this afternoon: “Brisbane Writers’ Festival does not shy away from controversy or challenging ideas, but as all festival organisers know, it’s invariably difficult to choose between the many authors currently promoting books and the need to provide engaging choices for our audience along a curatorial theme.
“In trying to achieve that balance, we decided in early June not to proceed with including Bob Carr on this year’s program, and MUP were advised at that time.
“The issue regarding Germaine Greer is somewhat different. Germaine had not been invited to take part in this year’s program — we’d been asked by a local bookstore to assist with the marketing of an event planned by them for within the dates of the festival.
“However when the bookstore decided not to proceed we decided not to host the event alone, as it was being held offsite away from the festival hub and (more importantly) it did not fit within the rest of the program.”
Former guest artistic director Carl Lindgren, who was only in the position from January to March, said that during his tenure “95 per cent of the invitations” — including those extended to Greer, Carr and Wilkinson — had been issued.
He said he had left the Brisbane Writers’ Festival for family reasons and was no longer associated with it, however he stood by his decision to issue the invitations.
“I thought they were good,” he said, but stressed he wished to make no further comment about what had become a “hotbed”.
Uncensored: Greer & Carr, Friday, September 7, 6pm-9pm, New Farm Cinemas, 701 Brunswick St, New Farm
Originally published as Brisbane Writers’ Festival ‘disinvites’ Bob Carr, Germaine Greer