Influencers punished with huge fines for 'disrespectful act' at sacred site in Australia
Topics: Australia, Art, Travel, Social Media
Anish Vij
Featured Image Credit: DES
Topics: Australia, Art, Travel, Social Media
Australia park officials have slapped 'self-indulgent' influencers with hefty fines for committing 'disrespectful acts' around the rock art.
The Carnarvon National Park - located in the Maranoa Region of Central Queensland, Australia - is home to towering sandstone cliffs, vibrantly coloured side gorges and Aboriginal rock art.
Although it seems that some tourists aren't sticking to the rules.
I know what you're thinking, but no one has been getting hanky panky around the art work, and no one is spraying graffiti over it.
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What these tourists are doing would be considered pretty normal in other hotspots, but that hasn't stopped the park issuing out 18 fines 'in the past year'.
It turns out that the Carnarvon National Park forbids 'unlawful' selfies and have 'issued six $431 fines to people who have entered Restricted Access Areas to take selfies or touch the rock face'.
“Some visitors to Carnarvon National Park think the rules don’t apply to them and they’re entering Restricted Access Areas to pose for photos,” Senior Ranger Luke Male said.
“In some instances, they are posing in front of Indigenous rock art that is thousands of years old, or they’re actually touching it.
“The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service makes no apology for taking compliance action against people who break the rules because they believe they are influencers.
“We also receive information, including photos from members of the public about people who have broken the rules.
“People have to understand that the Traditional Owners remain connected to this place and the rock art within it, and they regard the entire Carnarvon National Park as cultural site.”
Bidjara Representative Kristine Sloman - from the Carnarvon National Park Traditional Owners Management Group Committee - explained that the national park is a giant cemetery, and the rock art sites are places where family members have been laid to rest.
“Getting off the boardwalks and walking around is of the utmost disrespect, and is comparable to attending someone’s funeral and walking on their coffin,” Ms Sloman said.
“Many people around the world have chosen to close their sacred sites due to destructive impacts, and it would be a great shame to resort to this type of action.
“Let’s appreciate, learn, nurture, and respect each other’s cultures and ensure no more of our sacred places are damaged or closed to the public.”
The park said rock art must be protected for the following reasons:
1) Sandstone is very soft and cumulative impact of persons touching the rock face causes wear
2) Sunscreen, sweat and hand sanitiser can damage rock art
3) Entering Restricted Access Areas causes dust to lift which can adhere to the rockface
4) Touching rock art is disrespectful to the traditional owners