Creative Australia reinstates Venice Biennale nominees ^{CEFR B1}

Creative Australia has reversed its decision to remove Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino as Australia’s nominees for the 2026 Venice Biennale. The two were first selected in February 2025, but the Creative Australia board revoked the appointment only days later. The Guardian reported on July 2, 2025 that an independent review led to their reinstatement.

The cancellation had centred on two earlier Sabsabi works. YOU (2007) included footage of then‑Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and Thank You Very Much (2006) showed a video of the 9/11 attacks and President George W. Bush. A consultancy review by Blackhall & Pearl found "a series of missteps, assumptions and missed opportunities" in the board’s original decision process.

Reactions were strong. Supporters described the reversal as a win for freedom of expression. Poet and critic Alison Croggon wrote in Meanjin Quarterly that tearing up the contract felt like a betrayal and compared it to McCarthy‑era blacklist practices. Artist Lindy Lee resigned from the board, some staff left in protest, and there were accusations that Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke had influenced the earlier decision; he denied exerting political pressure.

Observers also pointed to a recent court finding that journalist Antoinette Lattouf was unfairly removed by the national broadcaster after reposting a Human Rights Watch video, suggesting the issue of editorial freedom is wider than one appointment.