Abdel-Fattah Threatens Defamation Action Against SA Premier

Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah says her lawyers have threatened defamation proceedings against South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas over his public comments following her removal from Adelaide Writers' Week.

In a social media statement, Abdel-Fattah said her legal team issued a concerns notice to the premier under the Defamation Act, describing his remarks as a "vicious personal assault". Her scheduled appearance at the festival was cancelled last week, a decision that triggered widespread backlash, board resignations and the eventual cancellation of the event.

The legal move follows comments made by Mr Malinauskas at a press conference, where he defended his position using a hypothetical comparison involving extremist rhetoric. Speaking in Port Augusta on Wednesday, the premier said he was unaware if a concerns notice had been received and maintained his comments were "founded in a place of compassion" and were on the public record.

More than 180 writers have since withdrawn from the festival, and director Louise Adler resigned earlier this week.