Books banned from schools after author admits to crimes
Abe Maddison |
The once-popular books of writer Craig Silvey will not return to classrooms or school library shelves in his home state after he admitted to child exploitation charges.
The high-profile West Australian writer appeared in court in Fremantle on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child exploitation material.
Books written by the 43-year-old, which were removed from the curriculum after he was charged in January, would not return to WA schools, Education Minister Sabine Winton confirmed on Wednesday.
”There is absolutely no place in our school system for works authored by someone who has admitted to such serious crimes,” she said.
”Predatory behaviour against children is abhorrent and has no place in our community, let alone in materials studied by students in our schools.”
Other states are likely to follow suit after suspending the use of his works when he was charged.
Silvey’s books, mainly aimed at young adult readers, were renowned for their empathetic storytelling, exploring coming-of-age themes and often featuring misfits and outsiders.
Two of his most successful novels, Jasper Jones and Rhubarb, were on the WA school curriculum as suggested texts for Year 11 and 12 students.
The WA Police Child Abuse Squad raided Silvey’s Fremantle home in January, allegedly catching him communicating online with child exploitation offenders.
The father of three was later hit with extra charges, including allegations he produced child exploitation material between February and June 2022, and possessed further material on January 12 this year.
Those two charges were discontinued, but Silvey admitted the remaining counts of possessing and distributing child exploitation material linked to the January offences.
Education departments in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania followed WA’s lead in withdrawing Silvey’s books from their curriculums after he was charged.
His book Jasper Jones, which sold nearly a million copies worldwide, was adapted into a feature film and several stage productions.
He has also been widely recognised for his adult-focused novels, including Rhubarb, Honeybee – which won the Australian Indie Book Award in 2021 – and the children’s novel Runt, which was also made into a film.
Bookstores nationwide also removed his books from sale after he was charged.
Publishers Allen & Unwin and Fremantle Press, which released Rhubarb, stopped promoting his books in January.
Both publishers have been contacted for comment.
Silvey, who made no comment after entering his guilty pleas, remains on bail and returns to the District Court on July 3 for sentencing.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
AAP