The Queensland Literary Awards is an awards program established in 2012 by the Queensland literary community, funded by sponsors and administered by the

State Library of Queensland State Library of Queensland (State Library) is the state public reference and research library of Queensland, Australia, operated by the Government of Queensland, state government. The Library is governed by the Library Board of Queensland, whi ...

. Like the former

Queensland Premier's Literary Awards The Queensland Premier's Literary Awards were an Australian suite of literary awards inaugurated in 1999 and disestablished in 2012. It was one of the most generous suites of literary awards within Australia, with $225,000 in prize money across ...

, the QLAs celebrate and promote outstanding Australian writing. The awards aim to seek out, recognize and nurture great talent in Australian writing. They draw national and international attention to some of our best writers and to Queensland's recognition of outstanding Australian literature and publishing. These awards have a focus on supporting new writing through the Emerging Queensland Writer – Manuscript Award and Unpublished Indigenous writer – David Unaipon Award. "They give local writers and new writers something to aspire to."

History

The Queensland Literary Awards was established by a not-for-profit association of passionate Queensland volunteers and advocates for literature, in response to Queensland Premier

Campbell Newman Campbell Kevin Thomas Newman (born 12 August 1963) is an Australian former politician who served as the 38th Premier of Queensland from 26 March 2012 to 14 February 2015. He served as the member for Ashgrove in the Legislative Assembly of Que ...

disestablishing the

in 2012. In 2012 and 2013 the program was run by a volunteer workforce. Following consultation with the QLA Inc. governing committee, 2014 saw the management of the QLA transition to

(SLQ). While SLQ took on a leadership role in delivering the program, the aim was to continue to build on the existing collaborative model where the community and writing sector partners are key stakeholders. The original Premier's awards were established by

Peter Beattie Peter Douglas Beattie (born 18 November 1952) is an Australian former politician who served as the 36th Premier of Queensland, in office from 1998 to 2007. He was the state leader of the Labor Party from 1996 to 2007. Beattie was born in Syd ...

, the then Premier of Queensland in 1998 and first awarded in 1999.

Award categories

There are currently twelve award categories including: *Queensland Premier's Award for a work of State Significance *Queensland Premier's Young Publishers and Writers Award *Queensland Writers Fellowships *The University of Queensland Fiction Book Award *The University of Queensland Non-Fiction Book Award *Young Adult Book Award *Children's Book Award *University of Southern Queensland Steele Rudd Award for a Short Story Collection * Judith Wright Calanthe Award for a Poetry Collection *David Unaipon Award for an Emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Writer *Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer *The Courier-Mail People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year

Judging

The awards are judged by independent panels of writers, critics, journalists, academics and booksellers. They are presented to works the judges determine possess the highest literary merit.

Winners

2024

The shortlist was announced on 1 August 2024. Winners were announced on 5 September 2024.

2023

The winners were announced on 6 September 2023.

2022

The winners were announced on 8 September 2022.

2021

The winners were announced on 9 September 2021.

2020

The winners were announced on 4 September 2020.

2019

The winners were announced on 12 November 2019.

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

References

{{Reflist, 30em

External links

State Library of Queensland. History of the Awards (past Queensland Literary Award winners and finalists

Queensland Literary Awards (archive)
Australian fiction awards Awards established in 2012 2012 establishments in Australia Australian non-fiction book awards Australian history awards