Author launches defamation proceedings against SA premier
Moderated by Tomas Kauer 
Australian-Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah has launched defamation proceedings against South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas over comments he made about her in relation to her appearance at the now-axed Adelaide Writers' Week.
Abdel-Fattah said her lawyers have issued a defamation concerns notice following several statements Malinauskas made about her.
The writer was dumped from the line-up at the annual literary festival due to what it described as cultural "sensitivities" in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, a decision which sparked widespread outrage, an exodus by fellow authors, and the eventual cancellation of the festival.
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Abdel-Fattah described a statement made by Malinauskas yesterday as a "vicious personal assault" and claimed it was defamatory.
"Enough is enough. I am a human being, not a punching bag," Abdel-Fattah wrote in a social media post.
"My lawyers have today issued a concerns notice under the Defamation Act on Premier Malinauskas.
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"This is his opportunity to undo some of the harm he has inflicted, and stop punching down."
Nine.com.au has contacted the premier's office for comment.
Malinauskas is expected to speak at a press conference soon.https://www.instagram.com/p/DTd_0EtEpCc/?hl=en
More than 180 writers, including former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Percival Everett, Booker Prize-shortlisted British author Zadie Smith and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, pulled out of the event in protest after Abdel-Fattah was dropped from the line-up.
All members of the board resigned following the swift backlash and yesterday it was announced the entire event had been cancelled.
Abdel-Fattah has also engaged lawyers as she seeks an explanation for the decision to cancel her scheduled event.
More to come.
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