Uluru to be closed INDEFINITELY as local Aboriginal group protests against allowing tourists during coronavirus crisis
- The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is closed indefinitely due to the coronavirus
- Local Indigenous community members blockaded the entrance to Uluru Monday
- Traditional owners don't want tourists in the park as they fear COVID-19 spread
- Parks Australia had continued to allow visitors despite coronavirus concerns
- Jetstar flight with 42 visitors arrived in the region from Brisbane on Monday
The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park was closed indefinitely on Tuesday after Indigenous locals protested against allowing tourists into the area to potentially spread coronavirus.
Protesters blocked the park entrance on Monday morning after 42 passengers arrived at 10am on a Jetstar flight from Brisbane.
NT Health officials said three of the passengers were from virus 'hotspots' - as declared by local officials - and were transported by bus to Alice Springs for the mandatory two-week quarantine.
Following the protest by the Mutitjulu Aboriginal Community Corporation (MCAC), Parks Australia chose to temporarily close the park until 12pm Tuesday.
The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is going to be closed indefinitely as Indigenous community members fear tourists could spread coronavirus
Traditional owners in the Northern Territory blocked the entrance to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park as a protest on Monday (pictured) after 42 passengers arrived on a Jetstar flight
Parks Australia then released a statement on Tuesday saying it was extending the closure indefinitely.
'At the request of Mutitjulu Aboriginal Community Corporation (MCAC) and following further discussions with MCAC, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, the Central Land Council, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress and the Northern Territory Government, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park will remain closed while re-opening protocols proposed by MCAC are considered,' Parks Australia said.
'We have the utmost respect for Uluru-Kata Tjuta's traditional owners and are continuing to work in good faith with them and all other parties to keep Mutitjulu residents safe.'
The Anangu are the owners of the land contained within the national park but lease it to Parks Australia.
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The organisation is now pushing for flights from coronavirus hotspots to Yulara, about 30 minutes from the park, to be cancelled, ABC reported.
This would also mean people from declared hotspots in the Northern Territory would not be allowed to fly to Yulara.
MCAC general manager Glenn Irvine said all tourists who arrived on Monday are being tested for coronavirus and will be allowed into the park if their results were negative.
Pictures from the entrance to the national park on Monday showed members of MCAC standing on the highway in protest with cars parked across the asphalt.
Tourists are no longer allowed to climb Uluru but can still walk around the base of the rock
'We were told this flight would not be going ahead today after the NT declared Brisbane a COVID-19 hotspot on Friday,' Mr Irvine said.
'I watched most of the passengers enter Yulara this morning. This presents an egregious and totally unacceptable risk to the residents of Mutitjulu and the surrounding Lasseter region.'
An email from Parks Australia seen by the NT News revealed the organisation had previously refused to close the national park.
The email stated Parks Australia's position; that allowing tourists into Uluru would be safer for the local Aboriginal community because there would be less chance of transmission out in the open.
'Closing the park now would result in visitors being confined in Yulara where the opportunity for contact with residents is much greater,' the email reads.
Following the protest by the Mutitjulu Aboriginal Community Corporation (MCAC), Parks Australia chose to temporarily close the park until 12pm Tuesday
Mr Irvine said traditional owners had been clear they did not want the visitors to enter the park and were left with no choice but to blockade the entrance after they were ignored.
NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he respects traditional owners views and said anyone arriving from a hotspot would need to go through mandatory quarantine.
Jetstar told Daily Mail Australia they are operating two flights between Brisbane and Uluru per week to deliver supplies and transport visitors.
The airline added it was following federal and state guidelines.
'We advised all passengers including those from Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan areas they are subject to the travel restrictions that came into force on Saturday. Given these restrictions, we expect it will be largely outbound passengers and freight.'
