Banned Books

Books have been censored for a variety of reasons over the centuries. A book may be completely banned, where it cannot be accessed by anyone, or it may be restricted, where there are conditions on its access (eg age restrictions, or a requirement of sections being removed from the original text). A book may also be challenged. This means there was an attempt to ban or restrict a book, but it may be unsuccessful.

In the past, Australia was one of worst censors in the English-speaking world. The most common reason for a book being banned in Australia was that it was deemed “obscene,” meaning it was believed it could corrupt the morals of the reader. This was often used to suppress LGBTQIA+ works. Overturning Australian’s book bans was initially started by Don Chipp under the Gordon Government and then more broadly dismantled by the Whitlam Government.  Some books remain banned — or at least restricted — in Australia, or in a specific State.

American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis. Although the movie is readily available, the original novel is restricted in Australia for its inclusion of graphic violence and sex, and was completely banned in the State of Queensland.

The Anarchist Cookbook, William Powell. This book has been banned since 1985. It was most recently reviewed and still refused classification in 2016, on the grounds that it “promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence.”

Another Country, by James Baldwin. This was banned from 1963-1966 for obscenity, due to references to homosexual and interracial sex.

The Decameron, by Giovanni Boccaccio. This classic work of 14th Century literature was deemed too obscene in Australia. It was banned from 1923-1936, and again from 1938-1973.

The Naked Lunch, by William S. Burroughs. This was the last work of fiction to be banned in Australia, due to its depiction of homosexuality and drug culture. The ban lasted from 1960-1973.

There is a recent rise in books being challenged in Australia.  This has mostly been seen in New South Wales and Queensland, though in 2024 there has been a sudden growth in Western Australia. These challenges are often accompanied by protests and threats of violence.

In 2023, there were 75 individual challenges of 48 different books in Australia.  Most of these books were by or about LGBTQIA+ people. This aligns with a recent study published by the University of Colorado Boulder, which showed that most bans target books with diverse characters or diverse authorship.

With the exception of the short-lived ban imposed by the City of Cumberland’s Council, none of these books have been explicitly banned in Australia. Gender Queer by Maia Kobaba has come the closest. Australia’s Classification Review Board rejected the challenge on this book. This ruling is currently being appealed in the Federal Court of Australia with a final ruling expected in 2024.

In place of explicit bans, Australia has been seeing a rise in “shadow banning.” This is where a book was never banned but is removed from the public anyway. Mostly this happens when someone chooses to not engage with a controversial topic and fears the potential consequences, such as the threats of violence we are seeing on the rise in Western Australia.

Books continue to be challenged or banned around the world. Today, the US is the worst censor in the English-speaking world, with hundreds of titles being challenged for a variety of reasons. Sometimes these could be classics where people are upset by the dated point-of-view around race, but most are LGBTQIA+ works that are challenged on obscenity or religious grounds. Around the world, many books are banned on the grounds of obscenity, religion, or for challenging the political establishment.

The US’s most challenged books | List of books banned around the world

Banned Books Week is an annual event about the freedom to read. Typically held in the last week of September, it celebrates free and open access to all forms of information. It highlights books that have been recently challenged and raises conversation on the freedom to seek and express ideas. You can visit the Banned Books Week website to learn more, and keep an eye open in the Busselton and Dunsborough libraries for displays during this period.