Last Wednesday, just two days before opening, Bendigo writers’ festival sent its lineup of more than 90 participants an email that would end up derailing the three-day event.
The email contained a code of conduct, including directions to “avoid language or topics that could be considered inflammatory, divisive, or disrespectful”. Speakers on panels presented by festival sponsor La Trobe University were also required to comply with La Trobe’s anti-racism plan, including the contentious definition of antisemitism adopted by Universities Australia in February.
