Awards seem to proliferate and grow fat within themselves. The National Book Council's rejigged and revitalised Banjo awards are announced next month. Sponsorship from Qantas has enabled the creation of new prize within the NBC awards for young writers.

In a more adventurous vein the ANZ Bank is sponsoring a prize within the Victorian Premier's Award for the best new writing – writing which breaks new ground. The $7,500 prize will certainly be the most valuable prize in Australia, and possibly the world, for this kind of writing. The Victorian Premier's Awards have been dogged by controversy (not necessarily a bad thing) and the new writing award will be a difficult one to administer and to judge. One judge’s new writing might another's old meat.