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ACA: “The visit was not our idea”

Nine defends its decision to film Pauline Hanson climbing Uluru.

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A Current Affair has responded to queries about its story last night following Senator Pauline Hanson as she climbed Uluru.

A ban will take place from late October preventing visitors from climbing but Senator Hanson wants it to remain open.

ACA gave plenty of airtime to its star subject but little to the arguments on why it was closing.

Nevertheless host Tracy Grimshaw footnoted with these remarks.

“We did not pay Senator Hanson and the visit was not our idea. As Martin King told you she was planning to climb the Rock as invited. She asked us if we wanted to cover the story and we did. Logistically it transpired there were some travel costs met by us – not all of those costs – and that’s not uncommon with stories like this.

“Also out of respect for the Anangu people we minimised vision of visitors climbing the Rock.”

Statement from Channel Nine on ACA site:

Pauline Hanson had recently expressed a desire to attempt to climb Uluru after the announcement that local land owners would be enforcing their desire to prohibit people climbing the magnificent natural landmark. Ms Hanson invited A Current Affair, along with local land owners on that journey. It is our view that by filming it for our audience, all Australians can gain an insight into this important and significant debate.

The ACA team followed due diligence to ensure all permits were granted and the climb was approved, and engaged local elders who agreed to meet with Ms Hanson. As viewers will have seen on tonight’s show, Ms Hanson gained new insights and appreciation for Uluru through the filming of the story.

Statement from Parks Australia:

Senator Hanson visited the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, where she met with senior members of the Anangu community including Reggie and Cassidy Uluru.

The Senator did not meet with the Board of Management.

Anangu ask visitors to do the right thing and choose not to climb.

The climb will close from 26 October 2019 – until that time visitors may climb if they wish.

For further information on Senator Hanson’s visit please contact her office.

21 Responses

  2. so not there idea but went along to film it anyway and paid so costs, why is these so still going give it a week and they will do a story on groceries

  3. “The visit was not our idea.” So, Nine and ACA are so ashamed by this shameless stunt, they are trying to also distance themselves from it? No Tracey, you can’t have it both ways. This was a shameful low for ACA. Either own it or don’t do it – t’s that simple.
    And why this circus act continues to be given a platform by Nine is the bigger story here. She is reprehensible and yet is given full access to blanket media coverage whenever she shrieks these days. And Nine wonders why viewers continue to turn off.

  4. There was much footage, not only on ACA, of Pauline engaged in discussions with the Indigenous people. I will give her credit for that alone as she is at least making an attempt to discuss in recent times, which is the expected role of a politician. Though I don’t resonate with a lot of her comments.

  5. Not only did Hanson disrespect the local community, but Channel 9 joined in as well. Typical Current Affair trash! I love the way Channel 9 continues to give Hanson a platform, while joining with other networks in condemning her rise. This person should not be allowed anywhere near a camera.

  6. Indigenous people used to climb it all the time. What has changed? Why doesn’t any journalist ask the question why it’s now magically “sacred”.

    1. Andy, check your facts. It is not ‘now magically sacred’. It’s been sacred for a long, long time and the Indigenous community at Uluru have been asking people for many years not to climb it. I first visited 25 years ago and it was politely explained why they prefer visitors not climb the rock. So the only ‘now’ about it is visitors are now hearing what is being asked. And most decent people respond with respect.

  7. They gave her what she really wanted – Media attention for her publicity stunt. This is why i rarely ever watch ACA anymore. They roll around the sewer with people like Pauline Hanson.

  8. It was disturbing content. Integrity would have been to accompany her to the base and wait for her to come back down, not accompany her. It documented nothing but disrespect on the part of production.

  11. They may not have paid for her trip, but they are certainly enabling her. And, this will no doubt encourage her to indulge in more puerile stunts.
    Presumably the taxpayer footed the bill for her trip costs?

      1. If ‘leftist’ means considerate of others then I fail to see how you use that word as an insult. Pauline Hanson fails to consider anyone who is different to herself and Channel Nine have simply enabled her toxicity with this story.

        1. I am by no means defending Hanson (shudder), but from my experience, extreme leftists also fail to consider anybody who oppose their ideology and resort to insults, petty indignation, and crying out every -ist under the sun to discredit the other instead of having a sensible adult discussion. But choosing between a crazed nationalist and a crazed leftist is like choosing between Satan and his mistress. Harmony will not come from from leaning to the extremes of either end of the political spectrum (or any ideology for that matter).

          There are merits to both sides, but favouring one extreme exclusively is like that old adage of cutting off one’s nose to spite the face.

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