Byron Writers Festival accused of rejecting sponsor over right-wing stance

​Author Brett Whitford alleges he has been rejected as a sponsor at the Byron Writers Festival for wanting to platform right-wing views in a debate.

​“I’ve been there for the last three years; it is, as Rowan [Dean] said, a monoculture,” Mr Whitford told News24.

​“I think that my sponsorship should have been accepted when the government are spending $1.4 million

​“This was all about fostering a debate and having different opinions

​“We put $1.4 million into the Byron Writers Festival, so we’re all sponsors of this thing, and they sit up there, and they mock normal mainstream Australian opinions.

​“I think they missed out on a great opportunity.

​“I think they would have been better off just letting me go up there, get booed by the lefty crowd and shuffle off around.”