A federal cabinet minister has backed the controversial call to axe a Palestinian-Australian author from the Adelaide writers' festival, amid a growing furore over the decision that has led several board members to resign and dozens of writers to withdraw from the literary event. 

Resources Minister Madeleine King on Monday said she was "surprised" writer Randa Abdel-Fattah was ever invited to participate in the festival and that she was on a "unity ticket" with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, who has "wholeheartedly" backed the board's decision. 

She is the first federal minister to publicly offer their views on the removal of Dr Abdel-Fattah from the event's program, which is organised by the Adelaide Festival.

"I've seen the comments that the author in question made, and to be frank, in my own opinion, I'm surprised she ever got an invite to the Adelaide writers' festival," Ms King said.

Asked if she thought Dr Abdel-Fattah's invitation should be reinstated, as has been called for by artists and former festival board directors, the minister said: "Absolutely not."

The author, lawyer and activist, who was scheduled to talk about her new novel, has previously faced criticism for her comments about Israel.

Last week the Adelaide Festival board issued a statement that said it would "not be culturally sensitive" to proceed with the Dr Abdel-Fattah's appearance at the festival in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack last year, while acknowledging that it did not suggest she or her writing had any connection to the massacre in which 15 people were killed.

Since then, dozens of high-profile writers have pulled out of the event and the program was removed from the festival's website in "respect of the wishes of the writers who have recently indicated their withdrawal".

On Sunday evening it was revealed the board's chair Tracey Whiting had also stepped down, along with three other board members.

Randa Abdel-Fattah has labelled the decision to cancel her invitation as "obscene". (Supplied: Macquarie University)

The ABC has repeatedly asked Arts Minister Tony Burke for his view on the decision, but his office declined to comment.

At a media conference on Monday Mr Burke took a different approach to his cabinet colleague and said such calls were a matter for the festivals themselves.