Australia news live: data hack on Victorian public schools; SA premier defends criticism of Randa Abdel-Fattah

<p>Peter Malinauskas says he has done what he thinks ‘is right’ in his handling of the Adelaide writers’ week fall-out. Follow updates 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>Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m <strong>Martin Farrer</strong> with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be <strong>Nick Visser</strong> with the main action shortly.</p><p>The South Australian premier, <strong>Peter Malinauskas</strong>, told ABC’s 7.30 last night that his criticism of <strong>Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah</strong> is “not about politics” but “examining your conscience and doing what you think is right, consistent with a few basic principles”. The Palestinian Australian writer and academic has threatened to sue Malinauskas for defamation in the fallout from the cancellation of the Adelaide writers’ festival. More coming up.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/jan/15/victoria-bushfires-school-data-hack-adelaide-writers-week-peter-malinauskas-labor-hate-speech-laws-political-reaction-anthony-albanese-sussan-ley-coalition-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>

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