Several Australian authors, including Stella Prize winner Evelyn Araluen, have severed ties with University of Queensland Press (UQP) after the publisher decided to destroy 5,000 copies of a picture book, "Bila, a river cycle", by Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money and illustrator Matt Chun. The book was scrapped due to Chun's past comments on Israel, which were deemed to breach the university's policy on anti-Semitism. The authors claim UQP's decision is a "shameful and abhorrent" attempt to censor and punish voices that oppose Israel, and have accused the publisher of patronizing and discrediting Indigenous storytellers. UQP has defended its decision, stating that it aligns with its policies and values. The controversy has sparked a wider debate about academic freedom, censorship, and the role of publishers in supporting diverse voices and stories.