Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges’ forthcoming address to Australia’s National Press Club on Gaza has been cancelled, as revealed in an article published during the weekend. The National Press Club has responded in a media statement.

Chris Hedges – Statement by the National Press Club ( 4 October 2025)

The National Press Club wishes to respond to the article published by journalist Chris Hedges about his proposed address at the club.

The club was approached by representatives of Mr Hedges to make an address, and tentatively agreed to a date given his stature and expertise on the matter of Gaza. The club is constantly reviewing its address schedule, and when more details of the address were made available we decided to pursue other speakers on the matter.

Chris Sidoti and Ben Saul addressed the club this week on the case for Palestinian recognition (with Chris being of the view that recognition in of itself is not enough), and we have Unicef Global Spokesperson James Elder and Judge Navi Pillay covering the war who will be speaking in the coming weeks.

It is important to state that the board and its CEO Maurice Reilly make decisions on speakers independently.

There has been no pressure from anyone outside of the board, either directly or indirectly, regarding our speakers on the war in Gaza. The inference that our decision to not go ahead with an address from Mr Hedges was to appease sponsors etc or lobby groups is false, exemplified by the speakers we have had on the issue.

The proposed address was never published on our website, so the claim from Mr Hedges that was removed is also false.

The inference that Mr Hedges was being cancelled to make way for the Israeli ambassador is also false and without basis.

We wish Chris Hedges well on his tour of Australia.

Contact Maurice Reilly CEO – National Press Club ceo@npc.org.au