Following a series of high-profile sackings and deplatforming of people in the Australian arts, news and academic sectors who’ve voiced support for Palestine or criticised the Israeli government, Dylan Bird checks in with author and journalist Jeff Sparrow about the state of artistic, journalistic and academic freedom, cancel culture, the long-term consequences of punishing free speech and the state of the world’s attention towards Gaza.

“We have a cultural and intellectual sector which at the highest levels are saying ‘If you speak out against this, we will find some basis to dismiss you, to punish you, to ruin your career’. That’s where we are in Australia in 2025.”

Photo credit: supplied.