Aborigines close Ayers Rock to tourists
Aborigines have decided to ban tourists from climbing Uluru, the giant monolith in central Australia also known as Ayers Rock.
Aboriginal owners of the giant red rock, the world's largest monolith, have closed it as a mark of respect for an indigenous leader who died at the weekend.
The want to keep it closed until his funeral in three weeks, a decision which a local politician said could cripple the tourist industry.
Aboriginal owners of the 1,115ft-high Uluru have long requested that visitors do not climb the rock, which is considered one of indigenous Australians' most sacred sites, but they have never before enforced their wish.
Senator Grant Tambling said: "I've had representations on this matter from commercial interests and also residents who are concerned about their employment."
Northern Territory Chief Minister Denis Burke, the region's most senior politician, said the federal government should override the unprecedented decision.
"Industry is asking for us to make the plea that this sends enormous shock waves through the whole of the tourist industry not only nationally, but internationally," he said.
"This could cripple the tourist industry in the NT (Northern Territory) for some time."
Parks Australia, which manages Uluru and its surrounding World Heritage-listed national park, said the climb and part of the tourist drive around the rock would be closed for about 20 days.
Mr Burke has called on Prime Minister John Howard and Environment Minister Robert Hill to overturn the closure.
