Climbers slam ABC for fueling tensions over Mount Arapiles bans
Climbing Victoria, a volunteer group, has criticized the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for focusing on a minority of disrespectful climbers instead of the majority who follow rules. The group's spokesperson, Melissa, says climbers have faced harassment and threats due to recent media coverage by the ABC news.
Melissa argues that the ABC has concentrated on social media posts from a 'very few loud obnoxious people', rather than the majority of climbers who respect bans and restrictions. She reports that climbers have received anonymous letters and death threats online, with some even being targeted on GroupMe.
Climbing Victoria believes a recent ABC article about climbers threatening to ignore climbing bans at Mount Arapiles has inflamed racial tensions. The article focused on comments advocating for disobedience, without mentioning climbers who have obeyed the restrictions since 2020. Melissa describes the isolated incidents of disobedience as involving tourists unaware of the bans or locals confused about their extent.
The group accuses the ABC of misrepresenting climbers as being disrespectful towards traditional owners in its recent reporting. Melissa claims that climbing groups in the nearby Grampians, including Victoria's Secret climbers, have also received anonymous death threats and have been harassed and bullied. She says the media has not covered the breakdown of relationships and social dynamics in towns surrounding Mount Arapiles, which have become deeply fractured due to Parks Victoria's handling of the bans.
Climbing Victoria, represented by Melissa, criticizes the ABC for focusing on a minority of climbers and inflaming tensions with local Indigenous people. The group argues that the ABC news has not adequately covered the impact of the bans on local communities and climbers alike.
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