Australian author Craig Silvey‘s books have been pulled from shelves and his publisher has ceased promotion of his work after he was charged with possessing and distributing child exploitation material earlier this week.
Fremantle Press said it had paused promotion of the 43-year-old author’s book, Rhubarb, while court proceedings were ongoing.
“The alleged offences are shocking and abhorrent,” it said in a statement.
“In a tight-knit community, this news affects our authors, industry colleagues, bookstores, schools and readers. Fremantle Press is available to its creatives for support via the usual contacts. We acknowledge the presumption of innocence and the importance of procedural fairness and will make no further comment until legal proceedings are complete.”
Allen & Unwin, the publisher of his latest book, the hit Runt which was later adapted into a film, followed suit.
“Given the gravity of the charges, Allen & Unwin will pause promotion activity of Mr Silvey’s work while the legal process takes its course,” the company said.
“We acknowledge this is an active police matter, and that Mr Silvey is entitled to procedural fairness and a presumption of innocence until the matter is dealt with by a court.”
Silvey’s books, including Jasper Jones and Rhubarb, are currently being taught in English and literature classes in some schools across Australia. WA Education Minister Sabine Winton said she had requested the books be withdrawn from classrooms across the state.
“I have asked the Department of Education to ensure that schools cease using texts by Craig Silvey for the 2026 school year while the allegations are under investigation,” Winton said.
“Some students may have studied these texts in previous years. The School Curriculum and Standards Authority will not penalise Year 12 students who may refer to these texts in the 2026 ATAR Literature course examination.”
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority said it was up to state and territory education authorities “to make decisions about the selection of texts in their teaching and learning programs”.
On Monday, Silvey was arrested at his home after he was allegedly caught “actively engaging” with other child exploitation offenders on the internet, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Shortly after he was arrested, he was charged with the distribution and possession of child exploitation material.
On Tuesday, the Runt author fronted Fremantle Magistrates Court, where state prosecutors alleged the children’s author had participated in online chats where he mentioned “sexual interest” in children and distributed child exploitation material over several days in January.
Per ABC News, the prosecutor claimed he’d used an adult site and used the pseudonym “Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy”.
State prosecutors also alleged Silvey refused to hand over passwords to his devices, including his mobile and laptop, to authorities.
SMH reports the magistrate described the charges as “very serious”.
The author was granted bail on a $100,000 surety, and he must report to his local police station three times a week.
The publication also reported that Silvey is banned from any child-related work and is not allowed to be unsupervised around children, including his own. Silvey is also prohibited from accessing the internet.
Silvey is a critically acclaimed author with his novels, Jasper Jones and Runt, both being adapted into movies.
Silvey is set to face court on February 10.
Image source: Instagram.
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