Does the Premier’s stance on Writers’ Week risk him being “labelled a hypocrite” as the next Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament looms? Mike Smithson warns freedom of speech issues could be back to bite.

The government is scrambling for the reset button with the Premier coming off his worst week since being sworn into office four years ago.

Peter Malinauskas has been forced off his game by the Adelaide Writers’ Week fiasco and into a rare atmosphere where many have questioned his judgement.

The controversial author, who’s been at the centre of his dilemma, has now issued a second “concerns notice”.

Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah says she gave the Premier one chance to apologise over alleged defamation related to anti-Zionism, which he refused to acknowledge, and now she’s pushing ahead with legal action.

If it proceeds, a court will decide his fate over the messy exchange regarding her axing and subsequent re-invitation to a future festival but, in many respects, the public relations damage was already done.

The first hint of the premier being off his usual controlled game came with an emotional media conference with him being close to tears explaining his stance on delicate issues in the wake of the Bondi attack.

After the new Adelaide Festival board was appointed, the Premier’s office rang around notifying the media of another press conference within the hour.

His Arts Minister Andrea Michaels held the fort in his........

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