Western Australian schools are taking immediate action to remove books by celebrated author Craig Silvey from their shelves and curriculums following shocking criminal charges laid against the writer this week.
Author Faces Serious Allegations
Craig Silvey, the 43-year-old author behind beloved novels like 'Jasper Jones', 'Honeybee', and 'Runt', was charged on Monday with possession and distribution of child exploitation material. The charges stem from a police raid on his Fremantle home in Perth, where detectives allegedly discovered him actively engaging with other offenders online.
Silvey appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday and was granted strict bail. He is scheduled to return to court next month to face the allegations.
Swift Response from Education Department
In response to the serious charges, the Western Australian Department of Education has moved quickly to pull Silvey's works from school libraries and reading lists. His novels, particularly 'Jasper Jones', have been featured in secondary school English curriculums across the state for years.
A department spokesperson confirmed the removal, stating the decision was made in light of the disturbing allegations now before the courts. The move has sent ripples through the Australian literary and education communities, where Silvey was previously held in high esteem.
Separate Case: Notorious Figure Arrested Overseas
In an unrelated major crime development, one of Melbourne's most infamous underworld figures has been arrested in Iraq. Kazeem 'Kaz' Hamad, a convicted drug trafficker deported from Australia in 2023, was detained following a request from Australian authorities.
Hamad, described as a tobacco kingpin, is believed to have been a significant instigator of violence in Melbourne's ongoing tobacco wars, even while living in exile overseas. He had previously served an eight-year prison sentence in Australia for drug trafficking offences.
His arrest highlights the continued international efforts by Australian law enforcement to target organised crime figures operating beyond the nation's borders.
