13 March 2010

The Australian Society of Authors condemns the decision of the Chinese authorities to deny author Robert Dessaix a visa to China due to his HIV-positive health status.

Mr Dessaix, an internationally published and acclaimed author, has been unjustly left out of the Australian government supported Writers’ Tour currently underway in China.

This was an act of discrimination that appears to be founded in fear or ignorance and is behaviour unworthy of any nation that desires to be seen as enlightened and civilised.

We ask the Chinese government to explain its decision as a matter of urgency and to offer Mr Dessaix the public apology to which he is entitled.

Nearly 100 prominent Australian Authors have signed a letter in support of Robert Dessaix. (below)

We were dismayed to learn of the Chinese government's refusal to grant a visa to the Australian writer Robert Dessaix on the grounds that he is HIV positive. We would like to express our support for Robert and to protest a decision founded on ignorance and prejudice.

Dennis Altman
Chris Andrews
Caroline Baum
Josiane Behmoiras
Gail Bell
Judith Beveridge
Gay Bilson
Tony Birch
John Birmingham
Georgia Blain
Ian Britain
Barbara Brooks
Fiona Capp
Laura Carroll
Steven Carroll
Brian Castro
Michael Cathcart
Justin Clemens
Stephanie Clifford-Smith
John Coetzee
Jan Cornall
Sophie Cunningham
John Dale
Luke Davies
Sarah Day
Tegan Bennett Daylight
Michelle de Kretser
Lucy Dougan
Stephen Edgar
Delia Falconer
Richard Flanagan
Tim Flannery
Catherine Ford
Helen Garner
Nikki Gemmell
Anna Gibbs
Jane Gleeson-White
Andrea Goldsmith
Kerryn Goldsworthy
Peter Goldsworthy
Marion Halligan
Sara Hardy
Kevin Hart
Vicki Hastrich
Susan Hawthorne
Kate Jennings
GailJones
Meredith Jones
Toni Jordan
Mireille Juchau
Tom Keneally
Margo Lanagan
Virginia Lloyd
Joan London
Alison Lyssa
Iain McCalman
David McCooey
Fiona McGregor
Hilary McPhee
David Marr
Michael Meehan
Susan Midalia
Peter Minter
Alex Miller
Drusilla Modjeska
Ben Naparstek
Pip Newling
Marcella Polain
Hannie Rayson
Paddy O'Reilly
Chip Rolley, Artistic  Director, SWF
Peter Rose
Hazel Rowley
Andrew Sant
Mandy Sayer
Craig Sherborne
Margaret Simons
Jeff Sparrow
John Stokes
Louise Swinn
Peter Temple
Carrie Tiffany
John Tranter
Christos Tsiolkas
Susan Varga
Mark Wakely
Murray Waldren
Chris Wallace-Crabbe
Frances Watts
Wendy Were
Terri-ann White
Gerard Windsor
Charlotte Wood