The rock belongs to all Australia
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday July 10, 2009
Australians are becoming weary of the double standards, policy failure and empty symbolism that have long accompanied government attempts to redress the needs of our indigenous people. Nearly all of these problems are manifest in the proposal to close Uluru to those who want to climb the rock.It would be useful if the director of National Parks, Peter Cochrane, could make up his mind about why he supports closing the track to the top of Uluru, previously Ayers Rock. A draft 10-year management plan published by the board of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park makes clear the board wants to close the track. In support, Mr Cochrane told the media this week: "Traditional owners ask that visitors don't climb. It's steep, it's strenuous and it's very high."The climb is strenuous. It is also dangerous. But this is not about safety. This is about principle. Uluru is joining the list of cultural sensitivity issues in the name of indigenous rights and autonomy. Most of those who visit Uluru already refrain from climbing the rock, and many have done so in response to the signs posted asking visitors to refrain from climbing.In contrast, others may view closing the climb as insular and insulting. Some may even want to climb the rock to poke the eye of what they regard as superstition. They need to look into their hearts, because that is a poor reason to climb Uluru.Like most natural landmarks in Australia, Uluru has always had cultural significance and sacred meaning to local indigenous communities. But over the past 220 years Australia has been utterly transformed into a Western democracy of 21 million people. The meaning of the rock has also evolved, taking on significance to the nation, not just a tiny local community.Cultural respect must flow two ways. Millions of people have experienced the magnificent and soulful panorama that awaits at the top of Uluru. About 100,000 people continue to do so each year. This should not become another example of the walling off of indigenous communities from the rest of society. The extensive system of permits and no-go areas has exacerbated a failure and cultural stagnation.We believe the status quo at Uluru is the right compromise between competing but not colliding values. Anyone who feels the need to make the pilgrimage to the top should not be prevented from doing so by government, because Uluru is a symbol to a nation, not a clan, and as a symbol it should be inclusive, not closed.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
