MILES FRANKLIN LITERARY AWARD 2025

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Three debut authors join two returning finalists and a two-time winner on the 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist, which the judges praised for “writing that refuses to compromise” and for inventing “new languages for the Australian experience.” Each shortlisted author receives $5,000 from the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund, whose CEO Josephine Johnston celebrated the shortlist as a reflection of the “extraordinary breadth” and diversity of Australian storytelling. The winner, to be announced on 24 July, will receive $60,000.

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• Chinese Postman - Brian Castro (Giramondo Publishing)
• Theory & Practice - Michelle de Kretser (Text Publishing)
• Dirt Poor Islanders - Winnie Dunn (Hachette Australia)
• Compassion - Julie Janson (Magabala Books)
• Ghost Cities - Siang Lu (University of Queensland Press)
• Highway 13 - Fiona McFarlane (Allen & Unwin)

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• Chinese Postman - Brian Castro (Giramondo Publishing)
• The Burrow - Melanie Cheng (Text Publishing)
• Theory & Practice - Michelle de Kretser (Text Publishing)
• Dirt Poor Islanders - Winnie Dunn (Hachette Australia)
• Compassion - Julie Janson (Magabala Books)
• Politica - Yumna Kassab (Ultimo Press)
• Ghost Cities - Siang Lu (University of Queensland Press)
• Highway 13 - Fiona McFarlane (Allen & Unwin)
• The Degenerates - Raeden Richardson (Text Publishing)
• Juice - Tim Winton (Hamish Hamilton (Penguin Random House))

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