South Australia’s Draft Biodiversity Bill

Have your say on South Australia’s draft Biodiversity Bill.

What's being decided?

The South Australian Government is introducing a Biodiversity Act – the first of its kind in our state – and you are invited to shape its development.

We want to understand what you think about the draft Biodiversity Bill, which proposes:

• a modern and nationally consistent process to assess and recognise threatened native species and ecological communities, aligned with international best-practice
• tougher penalties for wildlife crime and harm to biodiversity
• additional enforcement tools that provide more avenues to address environmental harm, including requiring individuals to repair damage rather than simply paying a fine and allowing third parties to take legal action
• a general biodiversity duty that would require individuals, businesses and government agencies to take reasonable steps to prevent or minimise harm to biodiversity
• better recognition and protection for native plants that provide critical habitat for threatened species and ecological communities.

Biodiversity touches all our lives - you don’t need to be an expert to provide your feedback.

Background

Biodiversity is the different kinds of life on our planet and how they work together. It’s the plants, fungi, animals and bacteria, and the way they function together in ecosystems.

Healthy biodiversity supports life as we know it – providing clean air, healthy soil, new 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 threatened 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.

Building on feedback received from the community last year, a draft Bill has been developed. The Bill proposes to absorb the existing Native Vegetation Act 1991, and all wildlife components of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, as the overarching piece of legislation protecting biodiversity in South Australia.

A new Biodiversity 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 by:

• reading the draft Biodiversity Bill and explanatory guide
• taking a look at our FAQs
• asking us a question
• learning more about biodiversity and the Act on DEW’s website

Have your say by:

• taking our survey
• emailing a submission 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 by:

• subscribing to receive updates on the Act's development

Please note: your feedback may be made publicly available, in part or in entirety, unless you indicate on your submission that you wish for it to remain confidential. If published, submissions would not include personal names or contact details but would include group/organisation name (if applicable). 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 consider all feedback in finalising the draft Biodiversity Bill.

The draft Bill will be introduced to the South Australian Parliament in 2025.