Australia news live: Adelaide writers’ week fiasco was ‘masterclass in poor governance’, outgoing director Louside Adler says

<p>Adler tells the ABC’s 7.30 the turmoil was a ‘watershed’ moment but event will ‘rise from the ashes’. Follow live</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p><strong>Victoria premier heckled by mob on visit to fire-affected communities</strong></p><p>An angry mob greeted state premier <strong>Jacinta Allan</strong> when she visited fire-hit communities in central Victoria yesterday amid accusations that her government had not been prepared for the cataastrophe that has seen <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/13/victorian-bushfire-threat-eases-structures-destroyed">hundreds of homes destroyed</a>, <strong>Australian Associated Press</strong> reports.</p><p>I think this is a landmark, a watershed moment in the history of Adelaide writers’ week … We’ve had a succession of dramas of this sort, where political interference and donors and lobby groups have been able to come in and have an influence and an effect on what is programmed and what is not programmed.</p><p>From my point of view, there’s a very important lesson in here for the arts community, and those people who feel committed to a practice of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and inclusivity and civil discussion.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/jan/14/adelaide-festival-writers-week-lousie-adler-politics-reaction-peter-malinauskas-victoria-bushfires-queensland-floods-anthony-albanese-labor-sussan-ley-coalition-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>

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