Craig Silvey fails to post bail as schools, publisher distance themselves from accused author
Prominent Australian author Craig Silvey likely spent the night behind bars after failing to post $100,000 bail on Tuesday on substantive child abuse charges.
The 43-year-old Fremantle-based writer was arrested at his home on Monday after he was allegedly caught by detectives who were “actively interacting” with other child abuse offenders online.
He is accused of expressing sexual interest in children by chatting with pedophiles and distributing child abuse material.
At his first appearance at Fremantle Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, prosecutors said jasper jones The author had refused to give police passwords to access his phone, laptop and other electronic devices.
He was released on $100,000 bail on the condition that he live with his mother and report to the police three times a week, but he failed to post bail after appearing in court and was sent to prison shortly after.
If he is released on bail at a later date, he will be banned from being left unsupervised around children, including his own, and will be banned from using the internet.
The accusations shocked the literary world; Silvey’s publisher, Allen & Unwin, stopped promoting his books after the Department of Education withdrew his novels from school curricula.
“Allen & Unwin is aware of the serious allegations brought against author Craig Silvey in Fremantle this week,” the publisher said in a statement.
“The nature of the allegations is extremely distressing. Our thoughts and condolences are with all the survivors of child abuse and their families.
“We accept that this is an active police matter and Mr Silvey is entitled to procedural fairness and the presumption of innocence until the matter is dealt with by a court.
“Given the seriousness of the charges, Allen & Unwin will cease promotional activities of Mr. Silvey’s work while the legal process continues.”
Following the accusations, Western Australian Education Minister Sabine Winton ordered schools to withdraw the author’s books from English classes.
“There are over 100 texts that students can study in 11th and/or 12th grade literature,” he said.
“Jasper Jones And Rhubarb Two of these texts by Craig Silvey jasper jones It is also one of 40 recommended texts to study in 11th and 12th grade ATAR and General English Courses.
“I have asked the Department of Education to ensure that schools stop using Craig Silvey’s texts for the 2026 school year while the allegations are investigated.”
Silvey has been writing for over 20 years. jasper jones It sells approximately 1 million copies worldwide.
His novel dated 2022 Runt It garnered numerous awards and was adapted into a feature film in 2024.
Publisher Fremantle Press said in a statement to its writers that Silvey’s arrest had come as a huge and devastating shock to the close-knit community of WA writers.
The City of Subiaco, which administers the Craig Silvey Award for Young Writers, said the author would not have any connection with this year’s awards.
“The city does not have an ongoing agreement with Craig Silvey,” Mayor David McMullen said.
“Mr. Silvey will have no connection with the 2026 Young Writers Prize.”
Silvey has not yet made an allegation of distributing child abuse material or possessing child abuse material.
He will appear in court again in March.
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