University of Queensland Press cancels Indigenous children’s book over illustrator’s Bondi attack comments
Consensus Summary
The University of Queensland Press (UQP) cancelled the publication of *Bila, A River Cycle*, a children’s book by Indigenous poet Jazz Money and illustrator Matt Chun, on 2026-04-23 due to Chun’s controversial 2026-01-01 Substack post about the Bondi beach terror attack. In the post, Chun argued that victims of the attack—15 people including a 10-year-old—were granted ‘default innocence’ because of their ‘whiteness and Jewishness,’ sparking outrage. UQP cited its adopted 2025 definition of antisemitism, which includes criticism of Israel tied to harmful stereotypes, as the reason for the decision. The publisher stated it could not ‘suggest endorsement’ of Chun’s views, despite the book’s focus on a Wiradjuri river having no direct connection to the controversy. Authors including Evelyn Araluen, Randa Abdel-Fattah, and Melissa Lucashenko condemned the cancellation, terminating their contracts with UQP in solidarity. Both sources confirm 5,000 printed copies will be pulped, though UQP denies outright destruction, calling it ‘recycling.’ Chun defended his post as historically accurate, while UQP faced criticism for allegedly succumbing to political pressure. The incident has reignited debates over free speech, antisemitism definitions, and the treatment of Indigenous voices in publishing.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- University of Queensland Press (UQP) cancelled publication of *Bila, A River Cycle* by Jazz Money (illustrated by Matt Chun) on 2026-04-23 due to Chun’s 2026-01-01 Substack post titled *‘We don’t mourn fascists’*
- Fifteen people were killed in the Bondi beach terror attack on 2025-12-14, including a 10-year-old child
- Chun’s post argued that ‘Whiteness, Jewishness, and the backdrop of Bondi Beach were enough to bestow every person killed with default innocence and virtue’
- UQP stated its decision was due to Chun’s comments ‘not align[ing] with the University’s policies and values including in light of its adopted definition of antisemitism’
- Authors Evelyn Araluen, Randa Abdel-Fattah, and Melissa Lucashenko announced they would terminate contracts or refuse future work with UQP in response to the cancellation
- 5,000 printed copies of *Bila, A River Cycle* were scheduled for release at the end of June 2026 and are now set to be pulped
- Dymocks removed books illustrated by Chun from its shelves in January 2026 following complaints about his essay
- UQP adopted Australia’s public universities’ 2025 definition of antisemitism, which includes criticism of Israel ‘grounded in harmful tropes’ or calling for its elimination
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Chun told *Guardian Australia* he stood by ‘every word’ of his post, calling it ‘deeply considered’ and written with Jewish comrades, and accused UQP of ‘capitulating to Zionist lobbyism’
- NSW Police’s Engagement and Hate Crime Unit is investigating Chun’s post
- The Australian described Chun’s comments in January 2026 as a ‘tirade against Jews and Zionists’
- Jazz Money stated the book is ‘about a river’ and ‘not got anything to do with antisemitism or Israel or Palestine’
- Melissa Lucashenko said she was getting legal advice about her upcoming book *Blood on the Tiles* with UQP
- UQP denied ‘pulping’ the book, stating copies ‘remain in storage while the University considers recycling options’
- Chun referred to *Guardian Australia* as a ‘liberal-imperialist’ publication in his post
- Evelyn Araluen’s Instagram post called UQP’s decision ‘shameful and abhorrent’ and accused the publisher of ‘destroying culture’ and ‘erasing’ Indigenous storytelling
- Araluen mentioned UQP authors had faced ‘patronising reviews’ and delayed publications, and that staff had been censored (without specific examples)
- Randa Abdel-Fattah’s letter to UQP (published by *Lamestream*) called the decision ‘shameful and cowardly’ and linked it to the Adelaide Writers’ Week boycott
- Abdel-Fattah’s book *Discipline* is shortlisted in the 2026 NSW Literary Awards
- Omar Sakr’s writing workshops were cancelled by the State Library of Victoria in 2024 over ‘child and cultural safety’ concerns
- More than 30 UQP authors signed a letter in January 2026 standing behind Jazz Money and urging UQP to resist external pressures
- UQP director Madonna Duffy replied to the authors’ letter, stating the university found it ‘appropriate to review’ the book due to public concern
- Lamestream reported Money and Chun were not informed about the review process until *The Australian* published an article in January 2026
- Sara Haddad’s Instagram post stated UQP no longer stands with its authors and ‘holds its authors of colour in contempt’
- Natalia Figueroa Barroso’s Instagram post called the cancellation ‘immoral’ and said she would ‘never sign with [UQP] again’
- UQP chair Professor Heather Zwicker sent an email to staff on 2026-04-22 stating publication would not proceed due to Chun’s comments
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states UQP ‘denied pulping’ *Bila*, saying copies remain in storage, while the ABC reports all 5,000 printed copies are ‘set to be pulped’
- The Guardian claims UQP’s reason for cancellation was ‘disingenuous’ as the book ‘had nothing to do with antisemitism,’ but UQP explicitly cited its antisemitism policy in both sources
- The Guardian includes a quote from Jazz Money calling the cancellation ‘environmentally reckless,’ while the ABC does not mention this specific quote
- The Guardian notes Chun accused UQP of ‘capitulating to Zionist lobbyism,’ but the ABC does not include this direct quote from Chun
- The ABC mentions UQP staff were censored (without examples), while the Guardian does not reference staff censorship
Source Articles
University of Queensland Press cancels children’s book over illustrator’s post on ‘Zionist framing’ of Bondi attack
Authors including Evelyn Araluen and Melissa Lucashenko say they won’t work with publisher after it dumps Jazz Money’s book illustrated by Matt Chun, who called Bondi victims ‘affluent beneficiaries of imperialism’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast An Australian publishing house has cancelled the publication of a children’s book by an award-winning Indigenous poet over comments the book’s illustrator made about the
Authors leave publisher after kids book cancelled for illustrator's comments
Writers including Evelyn Araluen and Randa Abdel-Fattah have left University of Queensland Press after the publisher axed publication of an Indigenous kids book over its illustrator's past 'anti-Semitic' comments.