UQP has cancelled a children’s book illustrated by Matt Chun, citing antisemitism
- Written by Dennis Altman, Vice Chancellor's Fellow and Professorial Fellow, Institute for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University
Is this the next step in cancel culture?
The University of Queensland Press has scrapped 5,000 copies of a forthcoming children’s book, Bila: A River Cycle by Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money, illustrated by Matt Chun.
The university’s dean of humanities, Heather Zwicker, cited an article by Chun, titled “We don’t mourn fascists”, published after the Bondi massacre last December.
In an email sent to UQP staff on Wednesday, Zwicker said Chun’s statements “do not align with UQ’s policies and values, including in light of its adopted definition of antisemitism”.
There is no suggestion that either the text or illustrations of Bila suggest antisemitism. The claim is that Chun’s statements make him an unacceptable author to be published by UQP.
We live in an era that increasingly seeks to cancel authors for their political views, even when these views are not reflected in their creative works. There are bookshops that refuse to stock Harry Potter books because of J.K. Rowling’s increasingly strident transphobic language. There are cinemas that hesitate to show Woody Allen movies because of allegations against him of sexual abuse.
I would not invite Chun, Rowling or Allen to dinner. But I am unwilling to argue we should cancel their work, especially when their views are not part of the work being cancelled.
Since the Hamas attacks of October 2023 and the resulting Israeli destruction of Gaza, our culture has been torn apart by cancellations and boycotts. Even peaceful expressions of support for Palestinians led to major friction in the Sydney Theatre Company, while pianist Jayson Gilham was cancelled by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra after dedicating a piece to journalists killed in Gaza.
Attempts to impose a particular definition of antisemitism led to the virtual collapse of the Bendigo Writers Festival. The intervention of South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas to prevent Abdel-Fattah’s appearance at Adelaide Writers Week in March led to a boycott large enough to kill the entire festival.
Meanwhile, Jewish creatives who support Israel have also claimed considerable discrimination and cancellations. Probably the best-known example is singer Deborah Conway, who has experienced multiple cancellations and attacks for her views.
Students for Palestine protesting outside Queensland Parliament House, Brisbane, February 10, 2026.
Darren England/AAP
As Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank becomes increasingly violent, there is increasing pressure on governments to restrict criticism. Recently a man was arrested in Queensland for wearing a t-shirt bearing the words “From the river to the sea”, which, it is claimed, is antisemitic in its desire to obliterate the existing state of Israel.
Ironically, senior members of the Israeli government make exactly the same claim in reverse when they speak of the lands of Judea and Samaria, which deny any Palestinian claims.
Had the protester in Queensland worn a t-shirt with those unproscribed words, the police would presumably not have acted.
We need find a better way to express political support and empathy than cancellations and boycotts. I was not invited to Adelaide Writers Week, but had I been, my instinct would have been to go and use the opportunity to speak out against Malinauskas’ attempt to censor an author because of her political views.
As a Jew, I am very aware of the reality of antisemitism. But as a writer, I do not believe we counter racism, antisemitism, homophobia or transphobia by boycotts and cancellations.
Authors: Dennis Altman, Vice Chancellor's Fellow and Professorial Fellow, Institute for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University
