Ever since Uluru was handed back to the traditional owners under the guise of a 99 year lease in December 1983 there has been a bit of hysteria whipped up about the traditional owners wanting to ban climbing the rock. This is despite the Federal government of the time ensuring the legislation allowed for continued climbing by tourists.

The Aṉangu do not climb Uluru because of its spiritual significance and request tourists do not climb the rock.

A new management plan for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has been put up for discussion. It includes the option of closing the climb if the percentage of tourists climbing the rock falls below 20%.

Currently only 38% of visitors do the climb.

The fake hysteria has started with the NT opposition blaming it on “southern environmentalists” and tourist operators making grandiose statements about the importance of the climb.

If the climb is banned it means the number of climbers would have dropped by 50% and the operators would then have another 18 months before the climb would be closed. No mention of the desires of the traditional owners by those against including this option in the management plan.

I wonder what the Aṉangu think of the current Channel 9 Winter Olympic promo showing skiers on Uluru.

Tagged as: channel nine, climb, Uluru, Winter olympics

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