Broken Promises: What happened to business as usual?

A promise broken....From the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies website "Journey to handback":

As the political battle around the upcoming handback swayed back and forth, the Anangu stayed strong in their resolve, with many Traditional Owners working tirelessly to assure the people of Australia that tourist operations at the park would continue as usual.

A joint statement by the Central Land Council and Pintjantjatjara Council sought to clear up any misconceptions, stating that the Traditional Owners had always recognised the legitimate tourist interest in the National Park, and supported the concept of leasing back the Park to the Commonwealth. They also supported a joint management scheme in which Aboriginal, conservation and tourist interests would all be represented.

"For the visiting tourist it will be business as usual. Any rare and limited restrictions necessary for ceremonial purposes are likely to be confined to those sites already registered as sacred by the NT Government's Sacred Sites Authority and already subject to restrictions.

"Such ceremonies should be respected as a vital part of traditional Aboriginal life."Traditional owners promise business as usual, The Age, 16/11/83

The climb was not listed as a registered sacred site at the time of handover. Traditional Owners need to keep their promise to the rest of Australia and allow the climb to continue!

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Right to Climb

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