Pauline Hanson finds unlikely support at Uluru after challenging the climbing ban - before accusing 'outside Aboriginals' of 'stealing jobs' from locals in fiery exchange with resort workers
- Pauline Hanson climbed Uluru on Thursday after calling for site to be kept open
- She went toe-to-toe with some locals after Elders expressed concerns about it
- Some Elders said they were worried about the impact the closure would have
- Ms Hanson has been a vocal critic of the ban that will be ushered in in October
Senator Pauline Hanson was involved in a fiery exchange with a trio of young indigenous women while discussing the thorny issue of whether tourists should be allowed to climb UIuru - but also found unlikely support.
The One Nation leader, who has publicly criticised the climbing ban, told the workers she was interested in speaking with the traditional owners of the land regarding the impending closure of the sacred site to climbers.
She went on to chastise the workers - who are indigenous Australians but were not born in the Northern Territory - for 'stealing' the jobs of locals.
She, along with senior owners Cassidy and Reggie Uluru, gave Senator Hanson their blessing to climb the rock, offering a thumbs up to A Current Affair cameras before she made her ascent
Senator Hanson visited Uluru after she was formally invited by Jimpanna Yulara, a senior member of the Anangu Mayatja Council of Elders.
Ms Yulara, who was 'happy' Senator Hanson made the trip, expressed her concern about the impact closing the site to climbers may have on jobs for locals in the area.
'Now we don't have Anangu people employed in our own backyard,' she said.
She, along with senior owners Cassidy and Reggie Uluru, gave Senator Hanson their blessing to climb the rock, offering a thumbs up to A Current Affair cameras before she made her ascent.
But the politician didn't get very far up before she opted to turn back.
'I cannot walk down here. My boots are that bloody old. They're so smooth I'm not getting any grip. I tell you what, I'm not getting any grip on my backside either,' she said as she tried to inch her way back down.
Senator Hanson visited Uluru after she was formally invited by Jimpanna Yulara, a senior member of the Anangu Mayatja Council of Elders
Senator Pauline Hanson went toe-to-toe with a trio of young indigenous women who attempted to educate her about the moral issues with climbing Uluru
Senator Hanson said she'd received overwhelming support from local traditional owners in her push to overturn the climbing ban.
'A lot of people have a lot of respect for me and appreciate the job I’m doing for them,' she said.
She told three girls who were employed in the region that her loyalty lies with locals who felt as though they were being overlooked for employment opportunities in favour of indigenous people from other communities.
The girls argued that while they weren't born in the Northern Territory, they got on well with their native colleagues.
'What, so our opinion doesn't matter?' one girl responded. 'Uluru is still sacred to us.'
Senator Hanson went on to say that following on from the girl's logic, she should also be considered indigenous.
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The One Nation leader (pictured) has been a vocal critic of the move to prevent people from climbing the famous rock and on Thursday defiantly attempted to scale it
'I might argue the point with you that I'm indigenous,' she said.
'I was born here. I'm native to the land, so I'm Australian as well and I'm indigenous as well.
'Do you know the word indigenous? It means native to the land. Where is my land if it's not Australia?'
'England,' the girl responded.
Ms Hanson had touched down in the Northern Territory earlier this week and made known her intention to climb the rock in defiance of the ban.
She has previously aired her disagreement and said the argument over publice safety was nonsense, akin to shutting down Bondi Beach in Sydney because some swimmers get into difficulties.
Uluru will be closed off to climbers in October after a decision was made to prevent future scaling of the sacred site
However, since her visit to the site, Sen. Hanson agreed climbing should be prevented until better safety measures were put in place, while still supporting the right of climbers in principle.
She said the sacred rock should remain open for climbing because 'we've been climbing the Ayers Rock, or Uluru, for many years'.
'People have been climbing the rock all of these years and now all of a sudden they want to shut it down?,' Ms Hanson told Deb Knight on Channel Nine's Today.
Senator Hanson said October's closure of the climb was 'ridiculous', pointing out that it provided significant revenue to the local indigenous community.
'The Australian taxpayers put in millions, hundreds of millions of dollars into it and they're wanting another $27.5 million to upgrade the airport there for the resort,' she said.
'Now the resort has only returned $19 million to the taxpayers only just recently. It employs over 400 people there, 38 per cent are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
'It's money-making. It's giving jobs to indigenous communities, and you've got thousands of tourists who go there every year and want to climb the rock.'
The One Nation leader had been a vocal critic of the upcoming ban and even attempted to defiantly scale the sacred site in the Northern Territory on Thursday
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