2008 Prime Minister's Literary Awards
The Prime Minister's Literary Awards are a new initiative celebrating the contribution of Australian literature to the nation’s cultural and intellectual life.
The awards, which will be held annually, recognise literature's importance to our national identity, community and economy.
A tax free prize of $100 000 will be awarded to the work judged to be of the highest literary merit in each of two categories:
- Fiction
- Non-Fiction
The awards are open to works written by living Australian citizens and permanent residents. 2008 entry forms and guidelines, outlining eligibility criteria and providing further information, are available under Quicklinks on the right of this page.
The 2008 awards
Would you like to receive the latest news on this year’s awards? Our e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on announcements of winning and shortlisted authors, judges comments and awards' events.
Close to 200 works have been entered in the fiction and non-fiction categories of the 2008 awards and judging is underway.
Authors, publishers and literary agents were eligible to enter works, first published in English and first offered for general sale between 1 January and 31 December 2007.
The closing date for 2008 entries was the 28 March 2008. A shortlist and winners will be announced in coming months.
The fiction judges
Three eminent Australians have been appointed to judge the best fiction works in the 2008 awards.
Chair of the fiction judging panel, author and academic Professor Peter Pierce, says judging the awards has confirmed his optimism about the state of Australian literature.
The non-fiction judges
Three eminent Australians have been appointed to judge the best non-fiction works in the 2008 awards.
Author and academic Professor Hilary Charlesworth says judging these awards has made her realise what a creative country Australia is.
Quicklinks
Contacts
For further information please contact the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, at the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts:
Phone: 1800 707 889
Email: pmliteraryawards @environment.gov.au
