{"url":"https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy/","title":"UQ pulps Indigenous kids' book over illustrator's alleged anti-Semitism.","domain":"lamestream.com.au","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/6610368/pexels-photo-6610368.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"australia","category":"Culture","language":"en","slug":"a5c1ed1e","id":"a5c1ed1e-ccc8-41c0-89f4-4d29d17b71b5","description":"UQ Pulps Book: University of Queensland decided to pulp 5,000 copies of Indigenous children's picture book *Bila, a river cycle* after queries from *The Au","summary":"## TL;DR\n- **UQ Pulps Book:** University of Queensland decided to pulp 5,000 copies of Indigenous children's picture book *Bila, a river cycle* after queries from *The Australian* about illustrator's alleged anti-Semitism.[[1]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy/)[[2]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy)\n- **5,000 Copies Destroyed:** The environmentally-focused book by Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money and illustrator Matt Chun had its publication halted under UQ's anti-Semitism policy.[[2]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy)\n- **First Policy Use:** Marks initial application of Australia's universities' controversial anti-Semitism definition to cancel a book, per Lamestream reporting.[[2]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy)\n\n## The story at a glance\nUniversity of Queensland Press (UQP), a subsidiary of the University of Queensland (UQ), pulped all printed copies of *Bila, a river cycle*, a children's picture book written by Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money and illustrated by Matt Chun. The decision followed media inquiries from News Corp's *The Australian* accusing Chun of anti-Semitism over past comments on Jewish victimhood and Israel. This occurred after UQP initially put publication on hold for review and legal processes; Lamestream reports it as the first book cancellation citing the anti-Semitism definition adopted by Australian universities last year.[[1]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy/)[[2]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy)\n\nAustralian universities, including UQ, endorsed the definition in early 2025 amid campus tensions over Israel-Palestine issues.[[3]](https://www.facebook.com/anic.org.au/posts/27th-february-2025aam-and-anic-reject-the-australian-universities-antisemitism-w/1072652671570024)\n\n## Key points\n- Book *Bila, a river cycle* is an environmentally-focused picture book; work began in 2022, with 5,000 copies printed ahead of this year's release.[[2]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy)\n- Matt Chun's prior comments included calling Chabad a \"Zionist Jewish-supremacist organisation\" and questioning Bondi attack victims' innocence, prompting police investigation and Dymocks pulling his books.[[4]](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/publisher-suspends-activist-matt-chuns-book-over-jewish-victimhood-comments/news-story/430d137f36ad2637340618bc29c0a2e6)[[5]](https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-882180)\n- UQP chair Professor Heather Zwicker told *The Australian* publication was \"put on hold pending... internal review and external legal processes.\"[[2]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy)\n- Jazz Money called the pulping \"reckless and disrespectful\" and said it \"sets a chilling standard.\"[[2]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy)\n- UQ cited its controversial anti-Semitism policy, adopted via Universities Australia last year, as basis for decision.[[1]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy/)\n\n## Details and context\nLamestream's exclusive reports UQP's move came after *The Australian*'s queries, escalating from an initial hold announced in January 2026 following Chun's op-ed \"We don’t mourn fascists,\" which disputed the antisemitic nature of a Bondi Hanukkah attack and criticised Chabad's role in \"settler-colonisation.\"[[2]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy)[[5]](https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-882180)\n\nThe anti-Semitism definition, endorsed by Universities Australia in February 2025, covers \"discrimination, prejudice, harassment... that impedes Jews’ ability to participate as equals,\" and has drawn criticism for potentially stifling Israel-Palestine debate.[[3]](https://www.facebook.com/anic.org.au/posts/27th-february-2025aam-and-anic-reject-the-australian-universities-antisemitism-w/1072652671570024)[[6]](https://countercurrents.org/2025/03/submission-to-australian-peoples-inquiry-into-university-restrictions-on-free-speech-on-palestine)\n\nMoney, an award-winning poet, had no role in the controversy; Chun received prior taxpayer funding via Creative Australia, which later declined to recoup it.[[7]](https://thejewishindependent.com.au/creative-australia-funding-matt-chun)\n\nNo major outlets like ABC, Guardian, or SMH cover the pulping; details rely on Lamestream and *The Australian* snippets.[[4]](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/publisher-suspends-activist-matt-chuns-book-over-jewish-victimhood-comments/news-story/430d137f36ad2637340618bc29c0a2e6)\n\n## Key quotes\n\"The decision to pulp all 5,000 copies... is reckless and disrespectful, and sets a chilling standard.\" – Jazz Money, author, to Lamestream.[[2]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy)\n\n“Put the proposed publication on hold pending the outcome of an internal review and external legal processes underway.” – Professor Heather Zwicker, UQP chair, to *The Australian*.[[2]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy)\n\n## Why it matters\nUniversities' anti-Semitism policies now extend to publishing decisions, potentially chilling free expression on campuses and in affiliated presses amid Israel-Gaza debates. Readers and creators face indirect impacts if books by accused individuals get cancelled pre-release, affecting Indigenous and children's literature availability. Watch UQP's legal review outcome and any author appeals, though future enforcement remains unclear without official UQ statement.\n\n## What changed\nPrinted copies of *Bila, a river cycle* sat ready for release; UQ now pulps all 5,000 after *The Australian*'s anti-Semitism accusations against illustrator. Initial hold in January 2026 shifted to full cancellation citing policy, as reported April 22, 2026.[[1]](https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy/)\n\n## FAQ\nQ: What triggered UQP's decision on the book?\nA: Media queries from *The Australian* accusing illustrator Matt Chun of anti-Semitism over comments like calling Chabad \"Zionist Jewish-supremacist\" and disputing Bondi victims' innocence. UQP first held publication for review, then pulped copies under anti-Semitism policy.\n\nQ: Who wrote and illustrated *Bila, a river cycle*?\nA: Award-winning Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money wrote it; Matt Chun illustrated. It's an environmental picture book about a river learning from polluted people, started in 2022.\n\nQ: What is the controversial anti-Semitism policy cited?\nA: Definition adopted by Australia's universities last year via Universities Australia, covering discrimination impeding Jewish participation; Lamestream calls this its first book cancellation use.\n\nQ: How did Jazz Money respond to the pulping?\nA: She described it as \"reckless and disrespectful\" to Lamestream, saying it \"sets a chilling standard\" despite her unrelated involvement.","hashtags":["#australia","#universities","#publishing","#censorship","#indigenous","#literature"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.lamestream.com.au/exclusive-university-of-queensland-scraps-indigenous-childrens-book-citing-controversial-anti-semitism-policy/","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://www.facebook.com/anic.org.au/posts/27th-february-2025aam-and-anic-reject-the-australian-universities-antisemitism-w/1072652671570024","title":""},{"url":"https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/publisher-suspends-activist-matt-chuns-book-over-jewish-victimhood-comments/news-story/430d137f36ad2637340618bc29c0a2e6","title":""},{"url":"https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-882180","title":""},{"url":"https://countercurrents.org/2025/03/submission-to-australian-peoples-inquiry-into-university-restrictions-on-free-speech-on-palestine","title":""},{"url":"https://thejewishindependent.com.au/creative-australia-funding-matt-chun","title":""}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-22T12:30:55.301Z","createdAt":"2026-04-22T12:30:55.301Z","articlePublishedAt":"2026-04-22T02:56:56.000Z"}