South Australia's new Biodiversity Act

We want your help to create a new Biodiversity Act for South Australia.

Note: This consultation was originally scheduled to close on Wednesday, 14 February 2024. It has been extended and submissions will now close on Friday, 1 March 2024.

What's being decided?

We are introducing a Biodiversity Act – the first of its kind in our state – and you are invited to help shape its development.

We want to understand your expectations around biodiversity conservation and the priorities for a new Act. Biodiversity touches all our lives, so you don’t need to be an expert to provide your feedback.

Background

Biodiversity is the incredible tapestry of life on our planet, including different species of plants, animals, microorganisms, and the ecosystems they form.

We need functioning biodiversity for clean air, healthy soil, modern medicine, food on our plates, and a resilient earth that can respond to threats like climate change.

Across the globe, biodiversity is under threat. In South Australia more than 1,100 of our plants and animal species are listed as threated with extinction.

South Australia does not currently have a dedicated Act to safeguard biodiversity, instead provisions exist across multiple laws, which has led to gaps in protections.

Developing the new Act and increasing the effectiveness of our legislative framework will allow us to do things differently. The new Act will be an important tool in ensuring South Australia's long-term future through a resilient and sustainable economy, while safeguarding nature for future generations to enjoy.

Get involved

Find out more:

• read our discussion paper
• watch our biodiversity Q&A video with Tim Jarvis
• take a look at our FAQs when reading the discussion paper for answers to your questions, including for more technical information. You can also download a printable version
• learn more about biodiversity and the Act on DEW’s website

Have your say by:

• taking our survey
• emailing any comments to biodiversityact@sa.gov.au
• posting your written submission to:
  • Biodiversity Coordination Unit
    Department for Environment and Water
    GPO BOX 1047
    Adelaide SA 5001

Stay informed:

• subscribe to receive updates on the Act's development

We’re aware that the development of a Biodiversity Act will be of interest to First Nations peoples. We are currently undertaking a separate targeted engagement to ensure the aspirations and perspectives of First Nations peoples are considered in the drafting of the new Act. If you are a First Nations person, or represent a First Nations peak body or group and want to get involved, please contact the team on biodiversityact@sa.gov.au.

Please note: your feedback may be made publicly available unless you indicate on the submission that you wish for it to remain confidential. Any responses that are made on a confidential basis may still be subject to access under Freedom of Information laws.

What are the next steps?

We will review all feedback and use it to help guide the development of a draft Biodiversity Bill. A summary of feedback received will also be made available on this site.