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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Entertainment
Kelly Burke and Sian Cain

Sydney writers’ festival chair resigns amid debate over Israel-Palestine programming

Israel Sydney Robert Watkins Sydney Morning Herald Ultimo Press
Signage at a previous Sydney writers festival
Robert Watkins, publishing director at Ultimo Press, was announced on Monday as the new chair of the Sydney writer’s festival after Kathy Shand resigned. Photograph: Andrew Vincent

The chair of the Sydney writers’ festival board has resigned over concerns about the festival’s balancing of views on matters such as the Israel-Gaza war, saying “freedom of expression cannot and should not be used as a justification to accept language and conversations that compromise the festival”.

The festival board confirmed Kathy Shand’s resignation on Monday, less than a month before the 2025 lineup of writers, speakers and panelists is due to be announced on 13 March.

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