By NICK SQUIRES in Sydney
A popular children's book about a teddy bear called Bromley who climbs Uluru has incensed Aborigines and reignited the debate over who controls Australia's most recognisable and famous natural feature.
Aborigines living around Uluru, or Ayers Rock as it used to be known, say the book is
insulting to their beliefs and should be withdrawn from sale or rewritten without reference to climbing the rock.
But the authors, Alan and Patricia Campbell, say they wrote Bromley Climbs Uluru long before the introduction of legislation designed to limit the way in which the monolith is portrayed in books, films and other media.
The Campbells wrote the book after visiting Uluru in 1986.
One of seven books featuring Bromley, it was a hit with children and has sold more than 40,000 copies.
Alan Campbell wants to have it reprinted, but faces a fine of up to A$55,000 under recently strengthened federal laws to prevent commercial exploitation of Uluru.
Brooke Watson, manager of Uluru-Kata Tjuta national park, said: "I'm still hoping Mr Campbell will rewrite the book and call it Bromley visits Uluru and has a cultural experience".
