Jacinta Nampijinpa Price slams move to ban tourists from Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre ... trends now
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Indigenous senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has slammed a controversial proposal to ban visitors at Australia's biggest lake to protect its cultural significance.
Thousands of tourists flock to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre in South Australia's far north every few years when the outback destination transforms into a spectacular kaleidoscope of colours and an oasis of flowers and birds after flooding rains from Queensland.
It's also a sacred site for the Arabana people, who have lived in the region for millennia and are the lake's native title holders.
Under a proposed management plan, all recreational access to the lake bed will be banned out of respect for Arabana culture.
Swimming, driving, boating and landing aircraft on the lake are already banned, but the new plan would prevent visitors setting foot on its bed without permission.
Senator Price joined the growing groups of critics slamming the move claiming that Indigenous culture had become the 'new religion' and that Australia was quickly 'locking up' tourist hotspots around the country.
