Author Exodus Threatens University of Queensland Press After Book Cancellation

The University of Queensland Press (UQP) is in serious trouble, as at least 17 authors have severed ties or refused to collaborate with them again. This turmoil started when UQP pulled Indigenous poet Jazz Money's children's book, 'Bila, A River Cycle,' due to comments made by illustrator Matt Chun regarding the Bondi terror attack. In a Substack post from January 1, 2025, Chun criticized what he saw as liberal surrender to a 'Zionist framing' of the incident that resulted in 15 deaths. The Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies condemned his remarks as fostering hate. UQP, which has won small publisher of the year four times in the last five years, faced backlash from authors like Melissa Lucashenko and Tony Birch, the latter calling the book’s cancellation ‘cultural vandalism.’ Meanwhile, five thousand copies of 'Bila' remain in storage as the university explores recycling options. Nine staff members expressed feeling 'distressed and betrayed' in an open letter. A university spokesperson stated their support for editorial freedom but disapproved of Chun's comments. This situation underscores the ongoing debate over free speech, antisemitism, and editorial independence in Australian publishing.