Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull criticises what he describes as the “demonising” of artist Khaled Sabsabi after he is removed and later reinstated as Australia’s representative for the Venice Biennale. The reports say Creative Australia chair Wesley Enoch acknowledges that the process that led to Sabsabi’s removal and subsequent reinstatement was unfair, and frames the episode as a lesson for arts organisations. Turnbull says Sabsabi’s treatment was “absolutely” unfair, arguing that the circumstances surrounding his status as a representative were handled in a way that harmed the artist and damaged trust in decision-making. Wesley Enoch’s comments focus on governance and the need for better handling of disputes or concerns involving artists and public cultural nominations. Across the accounts, the central points are that Sabsabi is removed from the role, later brought back, and senior figures publicly debate the fairness of how the decision is made and communicated. The reports present both Turnbull’s criticism of the wider narrative around the artist and Enoch’s admission that the removal was not handled appropriately.