In a significant move impacting school libraries across the state, Western Australia's Education Minister has ordered the removal of all books by celebrated Australian author Craig Silvey from public schools. The ban, which includes the award-winning novel Jasper Jones, was enacted following a formal complaint and subsequent departmental review.
Minister Buti's Directive and the Triggering Complaint
The decision was formalised by Education Minister Tony Buti on Wednesday, 22 May 2024. Dr Buti directed his department to mandate the removal of Silvey's works from all government school libraries. This action was taken after a complaint was lodged regarding the content of one of Silvey's books, prompting the Department of Education to conduct an assessment.
The review concluded that the themes and language present in Silvey's novels were not suitable for the student cohorts within the public school system. Consequently, a statewide prohibition was implemented. The banned titles include Jasper Jones (2009), Runt (2022), and Honeybee (2020). Jasper Jones, in particular, is a modern Australian classic frequently studied in secondary schools and has received numerous accolades, including being adapted into a major feature film.
Departmental Stance and School Responsibilities
A spokesperson for the Department of Education confirmed the minister's directive, stating the review found the content of Craig Silvey's books to be inappropriate for children and young people in the government school environment. The department has a established process for managing challenged resources, and this outcome was a result of that formal procedure.
All public schools in Western Australia have now been instructed to remove the affected books from their libraries. The department's policy requires schools to ensure all learning resources are age-appropriate and educationally suitable. While the initial complaint targeted a specific book, the minister's decision extended to the author's entire published works for use in public schools.
Reactions and Implications for Literary Education
This sweeping ban has ignited immediate debate about censorship, literary value, and who decides what is appropriate for young readers. Craig Silvey is one of Australia's most respected contemporary authors, and his novels often explore complex themes of identity, injustice, and morality—subjects that many educators argue are valuable for adolescent development when taught in a guided context.
The removal of Jasper Jones is especially notable, as it has been a staple in many high school English curricula for years, praised for its engagement with Australian history and social issues. The minister's decision overrides the previous discretion individual schools and teachers had in selecting texts for study or recommendation.
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions in education between protecting students from potentially sensitive material and providing them with challenging, thought-provoking literature. It also raises questions about the consistency of resource review processes and the potential for a single complaint to lead to a widespread ban. The full impact on teaching programs and library collections across Western Australia is now being realised.
