Smithson: Premier has more ‘flies buzzing in ointment’ than Writers’ Week fiasco
As the Premier deals with a ‘public relations disaster’ over Writers’ Week, Mike Smithson ponders potential tensions with Labor’s frontline MPs who marched at last October’s pro-Palestine rally.
There’s an undeniable nasty vibe circulating across the political landscape since the horrific Bondi tragedy.
First came the shock of the deadly attack which left 15 innocent people dead at a Jewish Hanukkah festival in Sydney and then the recriminations.
The Prime Minister was forced into a potentially costly U-turn for him politically by resisting a federal Royal Commission and then having to take the logical path of giving it the green light.
In the past week controversial pro-Palestinian author, lawyer and academic Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah was axed, via email, from the prestigious Adelaide Writers’ Week for anti-Zionist statements she’s made in the past.
I’m first in line to reject censorship where it infringes on press or individual freedoms or enables a government or others to control the narrative, rather than allow sensible freedom of speech.
I also join the narrow chorus of those questioning the timing and actual intent of Dr Abdel-Fattah’s statements and the hurt they may have caused and still cause to Jewish people who’ve already been traumatised to the core.
The axed author and her comments have no link to what happened at Bondi beach, but there comes a point where climatic common sense plays a big part.
For other authors who’ve now chosen to boycott the Adelaide event, that is their prerogative entirely and should also be respected.
With high-profile withdrawals such as former New Zealand Prime Minister and author Jacinda Ardern, South Australia’s image is undoubtedly taking a reputational battering with severe consequences.
Most of the government-appointed independent Adelaide Festival Board has now quit in the aftermath, as well as event director Louise Adler.
The Premier has tip toed through this fiasco but also supports the board’s decision not to proceed with Dr Abdel-Fattah’s scheduled appearance.
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He made it abundantly clear that he thought it would be unwise.
By inference that must mean Malinauskas considers her pro-Palestinian views run a high risk of trampling on any culturally sensitivities at Writers’ Week.
Despite maintaining his strong stance, he must also be wondering the wisdom of delivering a verdict which then snowballed into such a public relations disaster for the state’s arts sector and independent free speech.
As reported in InDaily, he’s also possibly miscued by comparing her cancellation to that of Jewish writer, Thomas Friedman, who he claims was absent at the behest of Dr Abdel-Fattah in 2024.
But that author’s last-minute non-appearance was a scheduling conflict rather than heavy handed action from the board.
No-one could argue that it’s a tricky time for the Premier which must be handled carefully on the eve of entering election caretaker mode.
The Opposition Leader has also joined the fight against anti-Semitism.
Ashton Hurn’s announced Liberal policy to immediately strengthen laws to stamp out racial vilification and incitement if elected in March.
Both sides are raising the heat in a sensitive area which is relatively new territory in state election campaigning.
Such delicate issues probably wash over most South Australians who are far more concerned about confronting cost of living and climate problems.
But the Premier has another fly in the ointment buzzing through his political orbit.
At least four of his frontline Labor MPs proudly marched at last October’s pro-Palestine rally under the banner of SA Labor Friends of Palestine.
New Environment Minister Lucy Hood, and fellow first term MPs Sarah Andrews, Nadia Clancy and MLC Mira El Dannawi were all front and centre in the protest of Israel’s heavy-handed actions in Gaza.
Former Minister and Labor’s new Frome candidate, Tony Piccolo, has also been a long-time advocate of Friends of Palestine.
Some MPs proudly displayed their support on their office doors at State Parliament until reportedly directed to remove the messaging.
Former federal Liberal MP for Adelaide Michael Pratt has waged an awareness campaign alerting anyone who will listen to the presence of Labor’s Friends of Palestine.
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Why should he, in particular, care?
He’s also father of prominent incumbent Liberal MP for Frome (Ngadjuri) Penny Pratt who’s locked in a campaign battle with Piccolo to win the hotly contested seat.
By coincidence, or not, at least three of the Labor MPs mentioned weren’t present at Labor’s election year call-to-arms in the parklands on the Sunday before last.
Hood and El Dannawi were plainly visible at the event and on social media.
FoP supporter Erin Thompson was also present.
So, were the others dispersed through the large crowd, or diplomatically avoiding Labor’s mass gathering in case their mere presence became a spectacle of sorts and a distraction from the key messaging?
Government sources strongly reject that assertion.
I didn’t cover that story as a reporter but was interested to look through Channel 7’s vision to spot any trace of Piccolo, Andrews or Clancy, but couldn’t.
So, I’ve contacted each to find out why they were absent and was it deliberate or just coincidence?
Piccolo explained his non-appearance was due to his 89-year-old mother being “quite unwell at the time.”
He says he advised the Labor Party and “it was approved”, whatever that means.
I also asked him whether he supported the Premier’s stance on Dr Abdul-Fattah.
“As a member of the government, I always support the Premier’s decisions,” he said.
The other two responded to me via the Premier’s media unit, which suggests a tight control of their narrative from above.
Andrews said she couldn’t get a ferry back from Kangaroo Island having already pre-booked her ticket.
Clancy was interstate for family reasons.
But is there a simmering nervousness within Labor ranks since the Bondi attack?
All MP’s have every right to free speech but must also expect questions about their affiliations with special interest groups.
Mr Pratt questions whether the Premier sought their opinions before he supported the board’s decision to remove the invitation to the pro-Palestinian author.
I suspect these difficult issues will keep brewing just below the surface and remain tightly controlled until election day.
Mike Smithson is a presenter and political analyst for 7NEWS.
