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Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2023 winners announced

Thursday, 16 November 2023   Books+Publishing
@booksandpublishing

The recipients of the 2023 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards (PMLAs) have been announced.

The winners in each category receive $80,000, and the shortlisted writers each receive $5000. All prizes are tax free.

Selected from shortlists announced in October, the winning books are:

Fiction

Nonfiction

  • My Father and Other Animals: How I took on the family farm (Sam Vincent, Black Inc.)

Australian history

  • Unmaking Angas Downs: Myth and history on a Central Australian pastoral station (Shannyn Palmer, MUP)

Poetry

  • At the Altar of Touch (Gavin Yuan Gao, UQP)

YA 

  • The Greatest Thing (Sarah Winifred Searle, A&U Children’s)

Children’s 

The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards acknowledge the contribution of Australian literature to the nation’s cultural and intellectual life. This is the first year that the awards have been delivered by Creative Australia, following the release of the Australian Government’s 2023 Revive national cultural policy.

Said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: ‘These prestigious awards reflect the government’s commitment to supporting arts and culture. They build the international reputation of Australia’s writers by sharing our stories with the world. Our creative sector is central to Australia’s soul and national identity—and it is important that the Australian Government recognises the contribution writers and illustrators make to our cultural life.’

Said Minister for the Arts Tony Burke: ‘This year’s winners show the incredible depth and breadth of Australia’s literary talent. Stories like these allow us to learn about ourselves, understand each other and let the world get to know us.’

‘It’s critical we support our authors to tell distinctively Australian stories, which is exactly why the government is establishing Writers Australia,’ said Burke, referring to the literature funding body the government is establishing as part of its Revive arts policy.

The winners were announced this evening, 16 November, at a ceremony at the National Library of Australia in Canberra. More information about the awards is available here.

 

Category: Awards Local news