Traditional owners blockade Uluru as flight arrives from Brisbane
UPDATE: The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has temporarily closed after traditional owners set up a blockade to stop tourists who arrived from Brisbane from entering this morning
Northern Territory
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- Calls to close Uluru airport and park due to ‘unacceptable risk’ of flights from coronavirus hot spots
- NT shows first signs of tourism recovery
THE Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has temporarily closed after traditional owners set up a blockade to stop tourists who arrived from Brisbane from entering this morning.
The Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation (MCAC) were calling for the immediate closure of Uluru after 42 passengers arrived on a Jetstar flight from Brisbane at Yulara airport at about 10am on Monday.
Three of those passengers arrived from hotspots and were bussed to Alice Springs for mandatory quarantine.
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It comes after the NT recently declared parts of QLD, including Brisbane, as hotspots.
“This presents an egregious and totally unacceptable risk to the residents of Mutitjulu and the surrounding Lasseter region.” MCAC general manager Glenn Irvine said.
An email obtained by the NT News reveals that Parks Australia initially refused requests from traditional owners to close Uluru on Monday morning following a decision by National Parks Director James Findlay.
“Closing the park now would result in visitors being confined in Yulara where the opportunity for contact with residents is much greater,” the email read.
But Parks Australia went on to backtrack their decision on Monday afternoon and temporarily close Uluru after a blockade was formed at the parks entrance.
A spokesman said they had agreed keep Uluru closed from 1.30pm on Monday until 12pm on Tuesday.
It is understood this closure could be extended depending on the outcome of a meeting with traditional owners and Parks Australia on Tuesday.
Mr Irvine said he would be “deeply disappointed” with Parks Australia if they continued to oppose the closure.
“I do not envisage too much opposition to a closure for at least a few days,” he said.
“I’m afraid this issue could damage the relationship Parks Australia has with traditional owners here, it may be worse than the situation in Kakadu.”
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he respects the wishes of traditional owners.
“If there are any arrivals, we will make sure that everyone is screened and anyone from a declared hot spot is taken to Alice Springs for mandatory quarantine.”
A spokesman from Jetstar said they are currently operating two flights per week between Brisbane and Uluru as part of the Federal Government’s minimum viable network to keep communities connected and deliver medical supplies and mail.
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The NT News has contacted Voyages for comment.
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