Web links, documents
On May 12, 2016, The Conversation published a comment by Marianne Riphagen, Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University. The article is titled 'Why is it still possible to climb Uluru?'
Between 2013 and 2015, Riphagen conducted 20 weeks of research at Uluru as part of a study undertaken by the Australian National University, in association with Macquarie University, examining how the Anangu use their cultural heritage to earn a living.
The article contends that more needs to be done to make it possible for the Anangu to economically exploit their cultural heritage without having to adopt practices which violate their beliefs.
The full text of this article can be found at https://theconversation.com/why-is-it-still-possible-to-climb-ulu-u-r-u-u-58729
On May 8, 2016, the tourist information site, Traveller, posted a comment by Ben Groundwater titled 'Climbing Uluru: how is this still a thing?' The opinion piece contrasts the disrespect shown Indigenous Australian culture through the continued climbing of Uluru with the respect generally shown the sacred sites of other cultures.
The full text can be accessed at http://www.traveller.com.au/uluru-ignoramuses-why-choose-to-walk-over-anothers-sacred-site-gogwmu
On April 25, 2016, The Daily Telegraph published an opinion piece by Maria Billias titled 'Could tourists climbing Uluru help Indigenous Australians?'
The comment argues that encouraging tourists to climb Uluru could be to the advantage of the Indigenous population.
The full text of this article can be found at http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rendezview/could-tourists-climbing-uluru-help-indigenous-australians/news-story/f734f4c4d10d89885a8b6af08e20e30b
On April 21, 2016, SBS News ran a report on the Northern Territory Chief Minister, Adam Giles, supporting tourists being able to climb Uluru.
The full transcript can be accessed at http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/04/21/nt-minister-sparks-controversy-over-uluru-climb-call
On April 21, 2016, Crikey republished an opinion piece first written by former Northern Territory tour guide, Chris Watson, in 2006. The piece is titled 'Stop climbing Uluru. Just stop' and opposes the climbing of the rock.
It can be accessed at http://www.crikey.com.au/2016/04/21/stop-climbing-uluru-just-stop/
On April 20, 2016, SBS News ran a report canvassing the range of opinions on whether Uluru should be able to be climbed.
A full transcript can be accessed at http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/04/20/uluru-climb-plan-sparks-national-debate
On April 20, 2016, SBS Comedy published a comment by Ben McLeay titled 'Given you can climb Uluru you should also be able to do sick ollies off the Anzac Memorial'. The piece gives a list of behaviours which would be considered inappropriate and yet are no more culturally disrespectful than climbing Uluru.
The full text of this comment can be accessed at http://www.sbs.com.au/comedy/article/2016/04/20/given-you-can-climb-uluru-you-should-also-be-able-do-sick-ollies-anzac-memorial
On April 18, 2016, The New Matilda published a comment by Harry Hobbs titled 'Not Content with Wrecking the Environment, Greg Hunt Is Now Desecrating Sacred Sites'
The opinion piece opposes the government's decision not to prohibit the climbing of Uluru and places it in the context of what it claims is the general failure of policy re Indigenous Australians.
The full text can be accessed at https://newmatilda.com/2016/04/18/not-content-with-wrecking-the-environment-greg-hunt-is-now-desecrating-sacred-sites/
On July 10, 2015, the ABC's Radio National broadcast a segment titled 'Climbing the rock: why do tourists still climb Uluru?'
The treatment gives the views of the traditional owners, the park managers and a number of tourists. The full text can be accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/offtrack/climbing-the-rock:-why-do-tourists-still-climb-uluru/6603640
On January 27, 2015, The Alice Spring's News Online published a comment by Erwin Chlanda titled 'The Rock: To climb or not to climb'.
The opinion piece argues that there is no clear consensus among traditional owners that Uluru should not be climbed.
The full text of the article can be accessed at http://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/2015/01/27/the-rock-to-climb-or-not-to-climb/
On June 12, 2013, Traveller published an article by Ben Groundwater in which he claims there is no consensus among traditional owners as to whether Uluru should be climbed.
The full article can be found at http://www.traveller.com.au/climbing-uluru-its-more-complicated-than-you-think-2o2xq
The Parks Australia site has a section given over to Uluru and explains the Anangu's objections to the rock being climbed.
The section can be accessed at http://www.parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru/do/we-dont-climb.html
The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) has a section of its Internet site given over to the beliefs of the traditional owners of Uluru, the Anangu. The site includes an outline of the importance of Uluru within their belief system.
This information can be found at http://aiatsis.gov.au/exhibitions/tjukurpa
The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Knowledge for Tour Guides Handbook outlines the measures taken to manage tourism in the region to ensure visitor safety and minimise the cultural and environmental damage done.
The Handbook stresses that climbing Uluru is seriously discouraged.
The full text of the Handbook can be accessed at http://learnline.cdu.edu.au/tourism/uluru/downloads/readings/reading19_minimal_impact.pdf
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