The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) said it was forced to close the East West rail line because of “track washaways of up to 100 metres in some locations”.
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has joined a growing list of international writers and commentators who have decided to boycott the event.
The cause of the derailment is under investigation, with ARTC working alongside the train operator and the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.
No-one was injured during the derailment but the incident means a crucial section of the railway line is expected to be out of service until Saturday evening.
Abdel-Fattah called it anti-Palestinian racism and censorship, while over a dozen writers—including Jane Caro, Peter Greste, Maxine Beneba Clarke, and Omar Musa.
