Luke Horton

It would be hard to conjure a more unhelpful figure than Segal to lead the fight against anti-semitism than a
former NAB bank director, for over 2 decades during which time the bank admitted to misconduct, schemes involving bribery, forgery and general corporate grifting.

The special envoy’s plan is the latest push to weaponise antisemitism, as a relentless campaign pays off | Louise Adler The omissions are as important as the inclusions in Jillian Segal’s plan, which is guilty of overreach

Let’s hope that the current government does not yield to this massive over reach . Even if you are so blinkered as to be only concerned with Jewish issues, exceptionalising Jews will foster antisemitism rather than defeat it . www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Imagine the public outcry and Murdoch media beat-up if Australia allowed the China lobby to define sinophobia then enacted censorship on the PRC's behalf. Yet that's exactly what's happening with Israel and antisemitism.

It's now open to non Indigenous signatories. Awww I love writers and other creative peeps xxxx

Have just signed. Solidarity with you Ren!

below is the brief acceptance speech I was going to give on Tuesday, but instead my Fellowship was rescinded a few hours before the award ceremony:-

I acknowledge that I’m speaking on the unceded lands of Turrbal, Yuggera and Jagerra peoples and pay my respect to their Elders, past and present.
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‘Serious consequences for Australian democracy’: Author uses prize speech to warn against censorship Australian author Michelle de Kretser described feeling afraid of speaking publicly about the conflict in Gaza as she accepted the 2025 Stella Prize for her book Theory & Practice.

Powerful Stella prize speech from Michelle de Kretser:

“In Australia today it isn’t those applauding mass murder who have cause to be afraid, but those speaking out against it. Principally targeted are Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, First Nations people, people of colour, queers.”

Social post from Ren Wyld with details of being told her award was rescinded

Social post from Ren Wyld with details of being told her award was rescinded

Social post from Ren Wyld with details of being told her award was rescinded, including an email from a journo at The Australian sent 20 minutes before she was told.

Social post from Ren Wyld with details of being told her award was rescinded

The day author Ren Wyld was due to receive the Black & Write $15k Indigenous fellowship she was told it had been rescinded. A journo from the Oz seemed to know before she did. Appalling to see QLD govt cave to Murdoch press to punish a First Nations writer for speaking out in support of Palestine.

Ty for reading Danielle!

What a great #essay. For me, the escalating destruction of our #ecosystem is the great horror of our times, notwithstanding our enforced complicity in the current round of crimes against humanity. And as for asking why #reading is essential - it's a bit like asking why thinking is essential. 🤯

Ty for reading Stuart!

How I admire people who can write like this.

Books are essential - Overland literary journal Books are essential because — and yes, it seems now I dare to say it — they give us hope. But, more precisely, they give us the energy to seek new and better ways to understand, or to recognise. To se...

"In spite of all this, at no time over the last 18 mths have I felt that writing fiction was a waste of time". Finally got to @lukehorton.bsky.social's great essay on meaningfully engaging with this world through writing (& reading) overland.org.au/2025/05/book...

Ty for reading Martin!

#readersandwritersagainstthegenocide

'...while Israelis continue to slaughter Palestinians in their thousands — and we have awoken each morning to new unbelievably horrific scenes that can never be scrubbed from our memories — literally no-one in power is doing anything to stop it. No-one.'

All I care about today, as we vote.

Books are essential - Overland literary journal Books are essential because — and yes, it seems now I dare to say it — they give us hope. But, more precisely, they give us the energy to seek new and better ways to understand, or to recognise. To se...

In response to the prompt of a publisher's campaign, Luke Horton offers an extended reflection on the value of literature and the work of writing (and reading) in the current moment.

Keith Windschuttle’s rotten legacy - Overland literary journal Much can and should be written about Windschuttle’s rotten legacy, which exceeds the bounds of his attacks on Aboriginal Australia. Instead of the comprehensive intellectual thrashing he deserves, thi...

“In both Gaza and Australia, genocide only happens to white people. The rest are either collateral damage or painted as liars — Windschuttle helped make sure of that.”

Sam Ryan on the passing of “one of our worst thinkers.”

I reviewed @lukehorton.bsky.social's excellent new novel, Time Together for @meanjin.bsky.social. My response to it can be summarised as 'hard relate'.

Thanks @mxcreant.bsky.social

'I've been longing for an Australian novel like this: one riffling through the feeling of being forty-something in the 2020s—uncertainty and faint regret around careers or relationships, clocking the exodus of youth from the body...'

Ty @meanjin.bsky.social and @dionkagan.bsky.social

Islamophobia and antisemitism — why they are a shared challenge, not a competition - ABC Religion & Ethics While there is broad agreement between us that both antisemitism and Islamophobia are on the rise, Andre Oboler’s recent article highlights a troubling trend: the tendency to debate which form of prej...

Islamophobia and antisemitism — why they are a shared challenge, not a competition #AusPol www.abc.net.au/religion/der...

What a treat you're in for. One of the great reading experiences of my life (and i still have a couple to go)

The term ‘antisemitism’ has been weaponised and stripped of meaning – and that’s incredibly dangerous | Rachel Shabi Israel uses it to silence critics of its Gaza war while the right uses it to attack opponents. Meanwhile, the issue itself goes unaddressed, says author Rachel Shabi

The term ‘antisemitism’ is being weaponised and stripped of meaning – and that’s incredibly dangerous www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

We're killing civilians there who are then counted as terrorists. The Israeli army spokesperson's announcements about casualty numbers have turned this into a competition between units. If Division 99 kills 150 people, the next unit aims for 200. Recently discharged Division 252 officer

When I described Israelis hunting Palestinian children for sport I was not exaggerating or being purposefully outrageous. It is literally what the IDF is doing in Gaza. They are actually, literally, shooting civilians for fun.

www.instagram.com/p/DDxdPV1v1BN

Very sorry to hear Sophie. Shocking news

'Writers – and everyone else – must take sides, irrespective of the sensitivities they offend. We have no choice. Gaza is not safe, and neither is the world that allows Gaza to happen.' Great piece by @jeffsparrow1.bsky.social

Beautiful new writing from @jenniferdown.bsky.social 💙