University of Queensland Press (UQP) cancelled the publication of the children's book 'Bila, A River Cycle' by Jazz Money, illustrated by Matt Chun, according to multiple reports. The cancellation was due to comments Chun made in an online article that the university said did not align with its policies and values, including its adopted definition of antisemitism, the University of Queensland said.
Chun published a Substack post on 1 January titled 'We don't mourn fascists' about the Bondi beach attack, in which he referred to victims as 'affluent beneficiaries of imperialism' and made other statements, according to multiple reports. Fifteen people were killed in the Bondi terror attack on 14 December, including a child aged 10.
We don’t mourn fascists
New South Wales police confirmed that the Engagement and Hate Crime Unit was investigating Chun's post. Several authors said they would terminate their contracts or refuse to work with UQP in response to the cancellation. The Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies welcomed the cancellation, saying the university took a stand against 'hate, vitriol and grotesque propaganda'. According to the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, president Jason Steinberg said publishing a book whose illustrator expresses such views would be unacceptable. He added that such sentiments have enabled hate and falsehoods to fester in Australia, creating a putrid environment for the worst terrorist attack to occur on Australian shores.
Whiteness, Jewishness, and the backdrop of Bondi Beach were enough to bestow every person killed with default innocence and virtue. White, Jewish settler victimhood demands exceptional, heightened grief.