Australian authors, historians, publishers and poets have just one week to enter Australia’s richest literary awards, Arts Minister Simon Crean announced today.

Entries are flooding in for the 2012 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, which close on February 1. A total of $600,000 will be awarded across six award categories, including the inaugural Poetry Award.

“It was my pleasure to announce with the Prime Minister last year the new poetry category, which recognises the significant contribution poetry makes to Australia’s literary landscape,” Mr Crean said.

“From bush ballad to hip hop, poetry is ingrained in the cultural life of our nation and our great poets deserve to be recognised alongside our best authors and historians.”

Mr Crean said he was pleased with the large number of entries received so far across all award categories, including the newly incorporated Prize for Australian History which can include documentaries, websites, TV series and journals.

“Now in their fifth year, the annual Prime Minister’s Literary Awards celebrate the contribution of Australian literature and history to the nation’s cultural and intellectual life and recognise the pre-eminent literary talent that exists within our country,” Mr Crean said.

“The judging panels have already begun reviewing the entries and I look forward to announcing the shortlists later this year.”

Awards will be given for adult fiction, non-fiction, Australian history, poetry, young adult fiction and children’s fiction. The winner of each award will receive $80,000 tax-free in prize money and the shortlisted entries will be awarded $5,000 tax-free.

Entries close at 5.00pm AEDT, Wednesday 1 February 2012.

For entry forms and eligibility guidelines visit www.arts.gov.au/pmliteraryawards