Australian-Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah has launched defamation proceedings against South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas over comments he made about her in relation to her appearance at the now-axed Adelaide Writers' Week.
Abdel-Fattah said her lawyers have issued a defamation concerns notice following several statements Malinauskas made about her.
The writer was dumped from the line-up at the annual literary festival due to what it described as cultural "sensitivities" in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, a decision which sparked widespread outrage, an exodus by fellow authors, and the eventual cancellation of the festival.
READ MORE: Two charged over string of ram raids, ATM thefts in Victoria
Abdel-Fattah described a statement made by Malinauskas yesterday as a "vicious personal assault" and claimed it was defamatory.
"Enough is enough. I am a human being, not a punching bag," Abdel-Fattah wrote in a social media post.
"My lawyers have today issued a concerns notice under the Defamation Act on Premier Malinauskas.
READ MORE: Trump urges Iranians to keep protesting, says 'help is on its way'
"This is his opportunity to undo some of the harm he has inflicted, and stop punching down."
Malinauskas said he was "not aware" of any concerns notice while speaking at a press conference today.
"Every step of this journey, all of my remarks and indeed actions, I have strived for compassion," the premier said.
"People will be able to judge my remarks for themselves."
The premier described the decision to cancel the festival as "unfortunate" but acknowledged it was out of his control.
"There are different views and all should have a place to be spoken freely," he added.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTd_0EtEpCc/?hl=enMore than 180 writers, including former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Percival Everett, Booker Prize-shortlisted British author Zadie Smith and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, pulled out of the event in protest after Abdel-Fattah was dropped from the line-up.
All members of the board resigned following the swift backlash and yesterday it was announced the entire event had been cancelled.
Abdel-Fattah has also engaged lawyers as she seeks an explanation for the decision to cancel her scheduled event.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.