2008 judging panels
Six eminent Australians have been appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts to the judging panels for the 2008 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.
There is a three-member judging panel for both the Fiction and Non-Fiction Awards. Each panel is comprised of a chair from academia, an esteemed author and a recognised public figure. Every judge is also an author in their own right.
The judging panel for the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Fiction is being chaired by academic Peter Pierce, with author John Marsden and broadcaster Margaret Throsby also on the panel.
Academic Professor Hilary Charlesworth is chair of the non-fiction judging panel, with the panel also including Indigenous artist and author Sally Morgan and comedian and script writer John Doyle.
The final decisions on a short list and winners for the awards will be made by the Prime Minister who will take into account the judging panels’ recommendations.
What the judges say
The chairs of the 2008 Prime Minister's Literary Awards fiction and non-fiction judging panels have praised the depth and quality of this year's entries.
Chair of the fiction judging panel, Professor Peter Pierce, says judging the awards has confirmed his optimism about the state of Australian literature.
"The depth and quality of the entries has been notable in books written by both well-known authors and by writers whose careers are just beginning," Pierce said.
Professor Hilary Charlesworth, chair of the non-fiction judging panel says Australians can be proud of the quality of the works being produced by our non-fiction writers.
"Judging these awards has made me realise what a creative country we really are," Charlesworth said.
