Adelaide University criticised for reneging on hosting writers' week replacement event

A panel discussion, as part of the replacement Adelaide Writers' Week, says it was forced to change its location after Adelaide University reneged on hosting the event at Elder Hall due to "health and safety" concerns.

The event, Settler Colonialism: What It Can Tell Us About the Conflict in Israel/Palestine, includes United Nations special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese via video link alongside historian Henry Reynolds and UNSW Sydney academic Lana Tatour.

Moderator Chris Sidoti told ABC News that Elder Hall had been booked a month ago, but the university contacted festival organisers on Tuesday to say it could not go ahead.

Mr Sidoti said the university then offered for the event to be held at the National Wine Centre, which it runs, at a cost of $23,500 instead of the $750 fee for Elder Hall.

He said it was "a sad reflection on the state of Adelaide University today".

"The role of the university is precisely to provide forums for these kinds of discussions — and it's failing in that," he said.

The Thursday evening event will now be held at Norwood Concert Hall, in Adelaide's eastern suburbs.

A spokesperson for the Norwood, Payneham and St Peters Council did not comment on any safety concerns but said "hirers" of the venue are "encouraged to advise South Australia Police of any public event having made their own risk assessment". 

"Any performances or views and ideas expressed as part of any ‘third-party’ event at the Norwood Concert Hall do not necessarily reflect those of the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters," they said. 

In a statement, a spokesperson for Adelaide University said it was "made aware of an external event scheduled at Elder Hall" on Friday last week.

"Following further exploration of the matter, the university could not accept the venue booking, as it did not go through the required review and approval process in accordance with the required policy and procedure," the spokesperson said. 

"Unfortunately, this left the university with no other choice other than to advise the organisers that it could not provide the necessary support, ensure the safety, respect and comfort of those attending or deliver the quality in keeping with the university's standards when it comes to public events of this size and scale.

"The university provided a suggestion to event organisers on an alternative venue."

Louise Adler, former director of the Adelaide Writers' Week, again described Adelaide as "Moscow on the Torrens" for stifling free speech.

"Universities, the arts and the media were once respected as sites where controversial ideas could be tested. That is no longer a given," she said.

"That can only be detrimental in the end to Australia's long cherished idea of itself as a robust democracy."

Last year, the Trump administration imposed US sanctions on Ms Albanese, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying she had "spewed unabashed antisemitism".

ABC News asked whether the university held concerns about the appearance of Ms Albanese at the event and its impact on research collaborations and donations, and whether it had received any complaints. 

The spokesperson did not specifically address those questions but said: "Adelaide University prides itself on being a place where event attendees are welcomed and where the exchange of ideas can happen freely".

Constellations: Not Writers Week was formed as a breakout event after this year's Adelaide Writers' Week was cancelled after hundreds of authors pulled out following Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah being uninvited to the event. 

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the university's decision was "concerning".

“Adelaide University really needs to explain why they have cancelled the booking for an event featuring one of the world’s leading legal experts in international law and human rights in the Middle East," she said.