Peter Porter Poetry Prize

The Peter Porter Poetry Prize, now in its twentieth year, attracted 1,066 entries, from twenty-one countries. Warmly we thank our three distinguished judges – Lachlan Brown (shortlisted in 2020), Dan Disney (winner in 2023), and Felicity Plunkett – who have shortlisted the following poems:

‘Poem of the Dead Woman’ by Judith Nangala Crispin (NSW)

‘Immigration Triction’ by Natalie Damjanovich-Napoleon (WA)

‘Workarounds’ by Dan Hogan (NSW)

‘Cuttle’ by Meredi Ortega (Scotland)

‘Blagaj Mostar’ by Dženana Vucic (Germany)

On our website we list the eleven poems that comprised the official longlist. There you will also find the judges’ report, including their remarks about the individual poems. Our judges had this to say about the overall field:

Arriving at this shortlist of five stylistically diverse poems, each of us was reading for language that was concise and perspicacious, language that arrested our attention in ways that immediately rewarded re-reading. In uniquely different ways, each shortlisted poem demonstrates compelling awareness of the function not only of the poetic line but, more broadly, of syntax, grammar, diction and the power relations transmitted therein. Each of these linguistic thought experiments remains inherently cognisant of the materiality of language. Accordingly, each plays a fascinating language game. Beyond matters of style, each shortlisted poem focuses outwardly towards social modes/models that bear the weight of creative critique; therein, each text parlays a critical qua ethical consciousness, in which the poem is shown again to be a tool with which to construct new thinking, new idealisms, new hope for renewed possibilities to stride across often-bleak horizons.

The shortlisted poems appear in this issue (from page 29).

This year’s Porter Prize ceremony will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, 19 January (6pm). The shortlisted poets will read their poems, then the overall winner (who receives $6,000) will be named. To register your interest, please visit the Events page on our website and RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Meanwhile, our talented quintet is recording the shortlisted poems for the ABR Podcast. This will be available just prior to the ceremony.

Finally, we congratulate the other six poets who appeared on the longlist and who added such lustre to this year’s Porter Prize: Paula Bohince (USA), Marguerite Bunce (France), John Foulcher (ACT), Greg McLaren (NSW), Petra Reid (Scotland), Meredith Wattison (NSW).

Prizes galore

Thanks to all those who have entered the Calibre Essay Prize, from many countries. The Calibre Prize, now worth a total of $10,000 and one of the most lucrative prizes for an unpublished essay in English, closes at midnight on 22 January. The ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize will open on 15 January. The total prize money this year is $12,500 (with three individual prizes). Full details will appear on our website from 15 January. The Jolley closes on 22 April.