Australian writers reveal attributes (8)
I believe the answer is:
ascribes
'attributes' is the definition.
(I know this)
'australian writers' is the wordplay.
'australian' becomes 'A' (common abbreviation).
'writers' becomes 'scribes' (scribe is a kind of writer).
'a'+'scribes'='ASCRIBES'
'reveal' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ascribes that I've seen before include "Attributes to, credits with" , "Attributes (to) -- rib cases (anag)" , "Attributes or assigns" , "Attributes, regards as belonging to" , "Attributes, regards as originated by" .)