Arts minister demands Festival of Dangerous Ideas cancel bestiality talk by British historian Joanna Bourke

Bourke set to present The Last Taboo on history of sex between humans and animals' at Sydney festival but NSW minister wants it scrapped

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An Australian arts minister has demanded Sydney's Festival of Dangerous Ideas (FODI) cancel a talk about bestiality by the eminent British historian Prof Joanna Bourke, while admitting he had not contacted the festival for more information before calling for the event to be scrapped.

Bourke, the author of several books including 2020's Loving Animals, is scheduled to deliver her talk The Last Taboo on 17 September, which has been billed as exploring the modern history of sex between humans and animals" but does not endorse bestiality. FODI has in the past hosted controversial speakers including Christopher Hitchens and Julian Assange.

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