Jacinda Ardern

Jacinda Ardern is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand. She is newsworthy due to her recent move to Australia with her family for work opportunities, and her decision to withdraw from the 2026 Adelaide Writers' Week. This withdrawal is a direct response to the controversy surrounding the festival's disinvitation of Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah. The festival's decision has sparked significant backlash, including mass boycotts by writers and board members, highlighting concerns about free speech and cultural sensitivity. Ardern's decision to pull out adds to the pressure on the festival and underscores the broader implications of the controversy within the Australian literary and cultural landscape. Her actions demonstrate her stance on the issue and her continued influence on public discourse.