Aboriginal threat to close Rock over abuse crackdown

Published on Saturday 21 June 2008 19:49

ABORIGINALS have threatened to close Ayers Rock, known as Uluru, to tourists in protest against a government campaign aimed at countering alcoholism and sexual abuse in remote communities.

Indigenous groups held demonstrations across Australia yesterday on the first anniversary of the start of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER).

It was set up after a report that found widespread sexual abuse of children and alcoholism in aboriginal communities.

The scheme has split indigenous communities, with some noting that measures including alcohol bans and controls on the way individuals can spend welfare payments have improved life for children.

Critics say that sending in police and soldiers without consultation is discriminatory and demeaning.

"It is an occupation of our lands by the military, by the police and by the bureaucrats," Aboriginal activist Vincent Forrester said at a protest in central Sydney.

Forrester, an elder from the Mutitjulu people, the rock's traditional custodians, told the rally: "We've got to take some affirmative action to stop this racist piece of legislation. We're going to throw a big rock on top of the tourist industry... We will close the climb and no one will climb Uluru ever again."

Australia's 460,000 Aborigines make up about 2% of the country's 21 million population and have higher rates of unemployment, substance abuse and domestic violence as well as a life expectancy 17 years lower than other Australians.

Despite the NTER, Aboriginal children remained vulnerable to sexual abuse, Rex Wild, the author of the report that led to the intervention, said last week.

"They're more vulnerable because they're not in a school situation, they're not in any disciplined situation. They're just left in a house."

The government says progress has been made in getting Aboriginal children into schools and providing basic healthcare.

Indigenous affairs minister Jenny Macklin said the government was committed to the plan, but communities report mixed results.

"The measures have caused an enormous amount of hardship," said Paddy Gibson, the organiser of the Sydney march.

"People's income, their basic rights to social security have been taken away on the basis of their race. The seizure of 50% of people's social security payments... means that people are going hungry."