​The Australian Writers’ Guild is deeply concerned that the federal government has announced a restructure, abolishing the current Department of Communications and the Arts and rolling it into the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.

The Australian Writers’ Guild congratulates long-time member Tommy Murphy on the opening of his latest play Packer & Sons, which was supported by the Guild’s David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Writing for Australian Theatre.

Lucas Taylor’s AWGIE Award-winning multilinear narrative Eleven Eleven has won the 2019 John Hinde Award for Excellence in Science-Fiction Writing, with Steve Mitchell’s Cowtown taking home the prize in the unproduced category.

Five new Showcase projects have been announced as the shortlist for the 2019 John Hinde Award, to be presented at next week’s inaugural Powerhouse industry mixer in Sydney.

We are pleased to report that former AWG Vice President Kelly Lefever has been elected to the board of Screenrights and that former AWG president Geoffrey Atherden AM has been re-elected to serve alongside Kelly. Both will serve three year terms.