National News
Bendigo Writers Festival Free Speech Controversy Over 50 Writers Withdraw
The Bendigo Writers Festival, held from August 15 to 17, 2025, originally invited over 50 writers and hosts to participate. However, two days before the event, the organizers sent out a code of conduct requiring participants to “avoid language or topics that may be considered provocative, divisive, or disrespectful,” prompting many writers to feel that this restricted free speech and leading them to withdraw.
Investigative journalist Jess Hill called the requirements “entirely subjective” and questioned why the organizers invited writers to discuss issues if they did not trust them to engage respectfully. Jennifer Mills, vice president of the Australian Society of Authors (ASA), stated that such codes of conduct made writers feel “fearful and anxious,” emphasizing that “a writers’ festival should not act as a censor of writers’ speech.”
The withdrawals have led to the cancellation of more than 20 scheduled events, affecting planned talks and discussions. Nevertheless, the organizers decided to proceed with the remaining events and offer refunds to ticket holders.