West Australian Minister suspends $110,000 State literary prize

The $110,000 West Australia State Government funded literary award, which has been touted as one of the richest literary prizes in the world, has been put on hold this year, fuelling speculation it could be dumped.

Arts Minister John Day said the total prize money, format and timing of the Australia-Asia Literary Prize, which was claimed by revered Australian writer David Malouf last year, was under review and expected to be finalised by the middle of this year.

"There will not be an Australia-Asia Literary Award held in 2009, although it is expected that the award will be held in early 2010, pending the review recommendations,"Mr Day said.

Full story at westcom.au