Prime Minister's Literary Awards

The Australian Prime Minister's Literary Awards were announced at the end of 2007 by the incoming Rudd Ministry following the 2007 election. They are administered by the Minister for the Arts.[1]

The awards were designed as "a new initiative celebrating the contribution of Australian literature to the nation's cultural and intellectual life." The awards are held annually and provide a tax free prize of A$100,000 in each category, making it Australia's richest literary award in total, and among the richest literary prizes in the world. The award is given in the four categories of fiction, non-fiction, young adult and children's fiction, as selected by three judging panels. "The awards are open to works written by Australian citizens and permanent residents. Authors, publishers and literary agents are eligible to enter works, first published in the calendar year prior to the awards."[2]

2008 awards

2008 panels

For the inaugural 2008 awards, six Australians were appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts to the judging panels: three each for the fiction and non-fiction awards.[3]

2008 fiction panel

2008 non-fiction panel

  • Hilary Charlesworth, academic (chair)
  • Sally Morgan, indigenous artist and author
  • John Doyle, comedian and script writer

2008 short list and winners

The final decisions on the short list and winners for the awards was made by the Prime Minister (Kevin Rudd) based on the judging panels’ recommendations.[3] The following entries, out of more than 170 received, were selected for the Short List:[1]

Listed in official short list order; winners in bold type.

2008 fiction

2008 non-fiction

2009 awards

2009 panels

On 15 May 2009 the panels for the 2009 awards were announced.[4]

2009 fiction panel

  • Professor Peter Pierce (chair)
  • Professor John A. Hay AC
  • Dr Lyn Gallacher

2009 non-fiction panel

2009 short list and winners

The 2009 short list from more than 250 entries was announced on Friday 18 September 2009 in Melbourne. The winners were announced on 2 November 2009.[5] Two works shared the non-fiction award.

Listed in official short list order; winners in bold type.

2009 fiction

2009 non-fiction

2010 awards

On 30 March 2010 two new award categories were announced: "young adult's[sic] fiction" and "children's fiction". The prize for both these new awards will also be $100,000; its entries will be judged by one judging panel.[6]

2010 panels

On 14 May 2010 the panels for the 2010 awards were announced.[7]

2010 fiction panel

The 2009 fiction panel returned in 2010:

  • Professor Peter Pierce (chair)
  • Professor John A. Hay AC
  • Dr Lyn Gallacher

2010 non-fiction panel

  • Mr Brian Johns AO (chair)
  • Mr Colin Steele
  • Dr Faye Sutherland

2010 children's and young adult fiction panel

  • Dr Robyn Sheahan-Bright (chair)
  • Mr Mike Shuttleworth
  • Ms Mary-Ruth Mendel

2010 short list and winners

From over 330 entries, the 2010 short list of 29 titles was announced on 15 July 2010.[8] The winners were announced on 8 November 2010.[9]

Listed in official short list order; winners in bold type.

2010 fiction

2010 non-fiction

2010 young adult fiction

2010 children's fiction

2011 awards

Entries for the 2011 awards opened in January 2011 and an annual timetable was implemented: the shortlist will be announced in late May and winners in early July. The awards were restructured to provide greater recognition for shortlisted authors. In each category, the winning book now attracts a prize of $80,000; $5,000 is awarded to up to four shortlisted titles. The eligibility criteria were extended to include e-books and wordless picture books are eligible in the children's fiction category. The panellists from 2010 were returned for 2011.[10]

2011 short list

From 379 entries, the 2011 short list of 20 titles was announced on 26 May 2011.[11] The winners, listed below in bold type, were announced on 8 July 2011.[12]

2011 fiction

2011 non-fiction

2011 young adult fiction

2011 children's fiction

References