Abdel-Fattah’s legal team has filed a defamation concerns notice in response to several remarks made by Malinauskas about her.

“This is his chance to repair some of the damage he’s caused and to stop targeting those with less power,” she stated.

Nine.com.au has reached out to the premier’s office for their response.

Malinauskas is scheduled to address the media at an upcoming press conference.

In protest of Abdel-Fattah’s removal from the event lineup, over 180 literary figures, including former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Pulitzer Prize laureate Percival Everett, Booker Prize-nominated British author Zadie Smith, and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, withdrew their participation.

The backlash led to the resignation of all board members, and it was announced yesterday that the entire event has been cancelled.

Abdel-Fattah has also engaged lawyers as she seeks an explanation for the decision to cancel her scheduled event.