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Blunder wrote: I think it’s less about being progressive vs conservative or ownership vs non-ownership and more about just respecting a culturally significant site by not walking over it. It’s not too much to ask. Go visit it, take photos, walk around, but its not too much to ask to not climb over it, defining forever a walk trail that essentially puts a scar on that landscape.

The thing that makes me shake my head is that the challenge of the climb and the satisfaction of being on top are seen as of higher value than listening to and respecting the Aboriginal people who have been custodians/residents of the land for a lot longer than, well, everyone. In this regard, I think there is an underlying ignorance or disregard of what that land represents to aboriginal people (spirituality, culture, language, family, law and identity, etc) which differs to how non-aboriginal people typically consider land to be - eg an asset, resource, etc. This difference in how land or a site is valued drives a lot of this debate and that’s something that may never be reconciled.

As an aside, 37 people have also died climbing Uluru so I think this is just another sensible reason that supports this decision to close the climb.

Blunder in my opinion the views of what the rock means to Aboriginal people is no more or less important than what it means to everyone else. Uluru was given to them by the interpretation of an act of parliament and they can do what they like but it doesn't mean it's right.

Where to, Mt Augustus? Wave Rock? Bluff Knoll? Karijini? Bungle Bungle? Mitchell Falls?

Blunder wrote: Nope, happy enough highlighting the ignorance of the old timers who still live in yesteryear. Times are changing old fella. Sorry if that makes you feel sad on the inside or diminishes your self worth.

Whilst you whinge about "old timers" who still live in yesteryear think about ALL the others who still refer to "Invasion Day" which is now called Australia Day & those who keep reminding us of the "stolen generation" which happened back in yesteryear. We All should forget the past & look to the future.. Stuff this division by minorities

Its a load of BS, Elders were taking people up there in the 50s and 60s, no problems at all and those fellas still lived trad lifestyles.

Leather, isn’t it awful being reminded and having those previous injustices shoved in our faces? Obviously all we can do is act for the future but you can’t forget history and it’s lessons otherwise you are doomed to repeat it.

That’s your view BC and that’s totally fine. My view is that the thousands years (up to 10,000 years of human settlement is the area) of custodianship, custom and traditional use carry a fair bit of weight compared to the 80 years of tourism. It’s something that ought be respected, in my view.

Stand the Test wrote: Blunder of course we have to pay for past sins by suffering some things going ‘too far’ the other way in some people’s opinion. That is stiff shit and people who whinge about it as if there is no history to redress just don’t get it.
But my point is that on this one that doesn’t even come into it. The owners of the rock can tell people not to climb it end of story. The government tells people not to do stuff on its property all the time.
I don’t like invocation of religious beliefs as basis for exclusion but don’t think need to go there.

Why do I have to pay for “past sins” that I did not create? How long do the whingers expect Australia to pay for these so call “past sins”? When are we going to build a bridge and move on? It’s called progress.

Blunder wrote: Leather, isn’t it awful being reminded and having those previous injustices shoved in our faces? Obviously all we can do is act for the future but you can’t forget history and it’s lessons otherwise you are doomed to repeat it.

Lets not forget that the aboriginals of Australia where also cannibals but can we remind them?

LS I would not worry about Ayres Rock it is only the tourists from Europe whom go to such places in great numbers.

ArkRoyal wrote: LS I would not worry about Ayres Rock it is only the tourists from Europe whom go to such places in great numbers.

I've never been and don't have the slightest interest in ever going there, rather go OS.