GREENS ATTACK PM FOR REJECTING ULURU CLIMB BAN

Greens attack PM for rejecting Uluru climb ban

July 10th, 2009

GREENS leader Bob Brown has criticised Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for rejecting a ban on climbing at Uluru.

Mr Rudd has called the idea of closing Uluru to climbers "sad", and said he hopes it doesn't happen.

Senator Brown said climbing a sacred site was disrespectful to the indigenous custodians of the national park.

"We should respect the culture of the indigenous people and I think the prime minister should respect that culture too," he said.

"It's a breach of that faith to be continuing to say people should be able to climb the rock even though in doing so, they're climbing over the spiritual sensitivity of the local indigenous people, and I don't think that's fair."

The issue has been a talking point around the nation after it was revealed on www.ntnews.com.au on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister said both foreign visitors and Australians had told him how special climbing the rock is, although he hasn't done it himself.

Speaking on Melbourne radio, Mr Rudd, who is in Italy, said a management plan for Uluru was necessary to preserve the landmark, but climbing it should not be banned.

"I think it would be very sad if we got to the stage where Australians and our guests from abroad weren't able to enjoy that experience, to climb it (Uluru)," Mr Rudd said.

"As a matter of general principle my view has always been that people should be able to have appropriate access to Uluru, obviously the question is of public safety and managing important natural parts of our landscape."

The national parks service has mooted the idea to ban the climb, which has long been opposed by the Nguraritja, the Aboriginal tribe who regained title to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in 1985 and consider it sacred territory.

The tribe and federal parks service jointly manage the site, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Signs at Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, already ask visitors not to climb, saying it is a spiritual place for Aborigines and warning that the steep, slippery climb can be dangerous.

More than 30 people have died while climbing the rock, which is higher than the Eiffel Tower and about 10km in circumference.

The draft 10-year management plan for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park suggests an eventual closing of the climb after the tourism industry has had time to come up with alternative activities.

"For visitor safety, cultural, and environmental reasons the Director and the Board (of the park) will work toward closure of the climb," the plan says.

It also points out the environmental impact of climbers, such as erosion along the path and the effect on wildlife from waste left behind.

The draft will be open for public comment for two months before the plan is revised and presented to parliament later this year for final approval.