Traditional Owners call for man who defecated on Karlu Karlu to be prosecuted

Angry Traditional Owners want the government to prosecute a tradie who defecated on an Indigenous sacred site in Central Australia.

A nearly perfectly circular shaped boulder of red granite balancing on a huge rock with a small crevice filled with water. Source: AAP/Mary Evans/Ardea/Steffen & Alexandra Sailer

The NT man was sacked after footage emerged of him standing on Karlu Karlu, the huge granite boulders also known as the Devils Marbles, 100km south of Tennant Creek.

People filming the video can be heard laughing as he removes his pants before defecating on the popular tourist spot.

Karlu Karlu Custodians are deeply distressed and believe it has demeaned their culture.

Traditional Owner Sonny Curtis said, “everybody knows we are strongly saying we would like to share our country. It’s here for everyone, all of us to enjoy. But somehow they want it all, don’t want us to have any say at all.”

The Central Land Council (CLC) has asked the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority to take legal action under the NT Sacred Sites Act.

"They are feeling very hurt and angry," CLC Chair Francis Kelly said.

Mr Kelly said one Elder told him the alleged offender was "s******g on our culture" and that "in the old days he would have been speared in the leg".

Karlu Karlu ('round boulders'), are located south of Tennant Creek, NT, in the traditional country of the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri people. Source: Jamie Gilmore / 500px

The tradie was in the region to work on a power station upgrade, and contractor Clarke Energy has issued a public apology to Traditional Owners over the incident.

Traditional Owners also want the tradie's former company, subcontractor Nilsen Electrical, to apologise to them both publicly and privately.

Traditional Owner Sonny Curtis also demanded an alcohol ban at Karlu Karlu, saying drinking promotes disrespectful and unsafe behaviour.

“There shouldn’t be any grog. The best thing would be for people not to have grog at all when they are at a sacred site. Just enjoy the scenery, not drink grog because we all know grog brings lots of trouble.”

Traditional owners have requested signage at Karlu Karlu that informs visitors of their wish.

In 2013 a mining company was fined $150,000 for damaging a site known as Two Women Sitting Down at Bootu Creek, north of Tennant Creek.

The maximum penalty for individuals who desecrate a sacred site is $61,600 or two years jail.

With AAP