Statement on Dismissal of Jayden Kitchener-Waters

MEAA stands in solidarity with our First Nations member, Gomeroi & Ngiyampaa man Jayden Kitchener-Waters, following the NSW Premier Department’s decision to terminate his employment earlier this week.

Mr Kitchener-Waters was informed last Friday that his role as Community Engagement Officer at the NSW Aboriginal Languages Trust would end on Tuesday 27 January due to alleged “code of conduct breaches”.

The disappointing decision follows months of suspension that began when Mr Kitchener-Waters was told he couldn’t play at an unpaid performance in November 2025 because the messages on his guitar were “too political” and must be covered up.

These included the long-standing slogan “No Pride in Genocide’, used by Aboriginal people in Australia for decades to highlight the ongoing impacts of colonisation and violence against First Nations people.

Paul Davies, MEAA Musicians Director said it is the responsibility of artists to reflect the times – to inform, entertain, provoke and inspire – and censorship has no place in the creative industries.

“We support Mr Kitchener-Waters in exercising his right to free speech and freedom of artistic expression, and on using his platform as a musician to speak out on matters of public interest”, Mr Davies said.

He added that all musicians have the right to fair compensation for their work, describing the Premier Department’s decision to engage a musician for an unpaid performance at the NSW Premier’s Awards as unacceptable.

“Zero regard was given to the $250 minimum fee that MEAA successfully campaigned for and had endorsed by the Federal Government and six State Governments, including NSW, for all publicly funded gigs”, he said.