Following is a link to a study that was undertaken in 2006 written by Hannah Hueneke. Hannah submitted it in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts/Science with Honours in the School of Resources, Environment and Society, Australian National University,
Canberra.
As Hannah highlights upfront, the aim of the study was not to assess or interpret Anangu opinion on the climb, but to take the ‘please don’t climb’ message, as it is articulated in UKTNP interpretive literature and to focus on tourists’ responses to the Anangu request.
This is a lengthy document, but I commend it to those who are interested, both for, and against the banning of the climb, as it provides more substance, and colour, than is often offered by the ‘shock-jocks’ of the talk-back radio world. And that is not a sleight at Robin Miller who made the original post, but as is often the case, the ‘shock-jocks’ have their own agenda and will represent (or not) the facts as they choose.
In contrast, this study, in the words of the author, provides a historical perspective and rich empirical research and analysis that highlights that visitors’ decisions to climb or not to climb are deeply situated in wider political contexts and discursive practices that recognize or deny Indigenous claims.
I’m not in a position to debate this thesis, nor is it my place to do so, so I won’t. I’ve posted it for those interested in further reading on the topic.
http://www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au/education/downloads/HHthesis.pdf
Cheers!