UQP Cancels Children's Book Over Illustrator's Antisemitic Comments

The University of Queensland Press (UQP) has decided to withdraw 5,000 copies of 'Bila: A River Cycle,' a children's book by Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money, with illustrations by Matt Chun. This action was prompted by UQ's dean of humanities, Heather Zwicker, referencing Chun's article 'We don't mourn fascists,' which appeared following the Bondi massacre in December 2024. Zwicker indicated that Chun's views conflict with UQ's values and policies, particularly its definition of antisemitism, although neither the text nor illustrations of 'Bila' are accused of antisemitism. The cancellation came after The Australian newspaper's campaign and Dymocks' removal of Chun's works in January. Numerous authors, including Evelyn Araluen, Anita Heiss, and Randa Abdel-Fattah, have voiced their outrage, while over 30 UQP authors, including First Nations writers, previously urged the publisher to honor its contract after the book's suspension. This situation highlights ongoing debates about cancel culture, free speech, and antisemitism within Australia’s literary scene, intensified by the Israel-Gaza conflict.