PM’s Literary Awards Short List coming soon

The Arts Minister Peter Garrett will announce the 2008 Prime Minister's Literary Awards short list at the Mitchell Library in Sydney at 2pm on 6th August. The Minister says the 2008 short list contains an impressive selection of quality Australian works from both established and emerging writers, reflecting a great wealth of local literary talent. The chair of the fiction judging panel, Professor Peter Pierce and panel members, broadcaster Margaret Throsby and author John Marsden have praised the quality of the 91 fiction entries. The Australian Government has introduced the Prime Minister's Literary Awards to celebrate the major contribution of Australian literature to the nation's cultural and intellectual life. These prestigious awards offer a tax free prize of $100,000 for the two fiction and non-fiction works judged to be of the highest literary merit. To view the Prime Minister's Literary Awards short list after 2pm on the 6th August visit the Federal Government's arts website www.arts.gov.au/pmliteraryawards