Russell Walter retweetledi

You may not be aware, but not only has Australia de-industrialised, offshored its material industries, it also seems to have offshored its best new writing.
This is something of a function of the internet (potential readers no longer confined within national borders), but the most important writers in this country are either a) not published by local publishers (either self-pubbed or overseas presses) or b) published by presses here but all the buzz generated, audiences garnered and critical praise rendered occurs beyond these shores.
Every smart, engaging Australian writer doesn’t put too much stock in the industry here. And it’s got nothing to do with “muh dum Trent Dalton audience” and everything to do with the degeneration of taste among our cultural gatekeepers, the majority of which, I’m sorry to say, are glorified HR ladies, mumming at being well-read, erudite citizens. This is happening elsewhere, of course, but here it takes on an especially egregious form.
I’ve spoken about this before briefly (on @bradkelly's pod, on my own pod, and in an upcoming roundtable hosted by @RussellWalterrr alongside Lewis Woolston, Jack Norman, Ivan Niccolai, Liam Blackford & @JustinIsis1) but perhaps I will elaborate one day…with receipts.

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