Peter Garrett Defers Decision to Ban Uluru Rock Climbing

Uluru is considered sacred site by Aboriginal traditional owners, who have wanted climbing banned.

Coincidentally Mr Garrett sang about land rights at the base of the rock 20 years ago, according to The Age, which reported the story.

The decision follows another controversial one by Mr Garrett, who has also approved uranium mines, despite advocating against it, during his pre-political singing career, who performed at last year’s Sound Relief concert at the MCG.

The Environment Minister has given tourist operators a guarantee of at least 18 months notice before any closure so they can adjust their planning and tour marketing.

“Realistically I would expect the climb to remain open for at least a number of years,” Mr Garrett is reporting as saying in The Age.

“It is one of the few places in the world renowned for its stunning natural environment, alongside living Aboriginal cultures and these are great tourism drawcards we need to develop.”

Central Land Council director David Ross told The Age “Kevin Rudd won’t be around forever. One day he’ll be gone and Aboriginal people won’t. They’ll still be there watching people leave tracks over their sacred site.”

 

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Marc Pallisco

A former property analyst and print journalist, Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au.