State Library Victoria has cancelled a series of creative writing workshops, which were to be conducted by three writers who had publicly expressed strong opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza, without giving them or attendees a clear reason for the move.

Writer and poet Omar Sakr was told before he was to begin teaching that his services were no longer required, while journalist Jinghua Qian and writer Alison Evans had already completed initial information sessions for the course when they were informed it was cancelled.

Called Teen Writing Bootcamps, the course was open to teenagers across the country and mainly conducted online, with one in person session bringing the authors and students together at the end, to be held onsite at the library.

A spokesperson for the State Library said the course has been deferred to the second half of the year, not cancelled, but whether these individuals will be employed remains unclear. In what was called a termination agreement, each writer was offered a payment in lieu of their teaching services.

In a statement, the library said: “Changes in the external environment may from time-to-time affect how the Library facilitates its programs. Deferment of Teen Writing Bootcamp until the second half of the year is about the Library taking its obligations for safety of participants, presenters and facilitators very seriously.”

An email from the SLV to Sakr, seen by this masthead, stated: “We have a duty of care to ensure the highest levels of child and cultural safety are in place ... At a time of heightened sensitivities, we believe it is important to conduct this review carefully and thoroughly and take the time needed to make sure that the design and implementation guidelines for programs remain appropriate.”

While the email didn’t specify the nature of the sensitivities, the writers involved believe it refers to the Israel-Hamas conflict and invasion of Gaza. All three have expressed their support of Palestinians, and opposition to Israel’s actions, on social media. Qian is also a member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance’s Members for Palestine group. Evans has signed multiple petitions and reposted pro-Palestine messages on Instagram and X (Twitter).

Sakr wants the library to clarify what it means when it refers to “child and cultural safety”.

“Who was unsafe? What does it mean? You have to clearly articulate if you decided on your own that your processes are insufficient, that you are unsafe. You can say that out loud. But I won’t allow the inference to remain that we are unsafe,” he said. “I’ve made it very clear to them politely and professionally that it’s too serious for me to accept their premise and walk on, even with payment.“