Draft Pastoral Lands Bill 2020

Consultation has concluded

Consultation Process


Now Closed

This online engagement was hosted on YourSAy from 4 September to 18 October 2020. Below is a record of the engagement.

Have your say on the draft Pastoral Lands Bill 2020 and the future of South Australia’s pastoral rangelands

What is being decided?

Last year we ran a public consultation on the future of South Australia’s pastoral rangelands inviting the community to provide their views on the future management of the pastoral rangelands.

We heard from those who live on and manage the pastoral rangelands, Aboriginal organisations, other industry sectors such as tourism and mining, and

Consultation Process


Now Closed

This online engagement was hosted on YourSAy from 4 September to 18 October 2020. Below is a record of the engagement.

Have your say on the draft Pastoral Lands Bill 2020 and the future of South Australia’s pastoral rangelands

What is being decided?

Last year we ran a public consultation on the future of South Australia’s pastoral rangelands inviting the community to provide their views on the future management of the pastoral rangelands.

We heard from those who live on and manage the pastoral rangelands, Aboriginal organisations, other industry sectors such as tourism and mining, and from the general public.

Based on this feedback, we have drafted the Pastoral Lands Bill 2020, which aims to highlight the value from the rangelands, while continuing to maintain the environmental and productive condition of the land for future generations.

The Bill is intended to replace the current Pastoral Land Management and Conservation Act 1989 to:

  • reflect the modern needs of South Australia’s pastoral industry,
  • support diversification of land use,
  • facilitate economic growth, and,
  • ensure the land remains ecologically sustainable.

We've put together a video to help you understand the draft.

We are now inviting you to provide feedback on the draft Bill.

Get involved

Read the Pastoral Lands Bill 2020, Explanatory Guide to the Bill and the Summary of changes.

Have your say by:

  • completing the online survey
  • attending one of our public meetings
  • viewing one of our webinars

If you have any issues with the survey, please contact PIRSA.PastoralActReview@sa.gov.au

How can your input influence the decision?

Your feedback will help inform the refinement of the Bill, prior to lodgement in Parliament for consideration in 2021.

What are the next steps?

Once final feedback is gathered, it will help refine the content of the Bill, before it is finalised and prepared for introduction into Parliament for consideration in 2021.

Contact

For more information email: PIRSA.PastoralActReview@sa.gov.au

Closing date: 5pm Sunday 18 October 2020

Background


Now Closed

This online engagement was hosted on YourSAy from 4 September to 18 October 2020. Below is a record of the engagement.

Pastoral leasehold land in South Australia covers over 40% the state, comprised of 323 pastoral leases. The management, administration and use of pastoral lands is currently provided for in the Pastoral Land Management and Conservation Act 1989.

The pastoral rangelands contributes to South Australia’s economy and pastoral industry, is important for Aboriginal culture and ecological biodiversity and supports local communities through regional employment and tourism. However, the current legislation limits the ability to realise the full potential of this landscape.

We have undertaken a review of the existing legislation and based on extensive feedback from our previous consultation from a wide range of stakeholders, we have developed a new Pastoral Lands Bill 2020.

You can read more about the feedback received on the current Act which informed the development of the Bill in the following documents:

We want to operate under modern legislation that reflects the shared vision that South Australians have for the future of the pastoral rangelands.


Consultation has concluded

  • Summary of changes

    South Australia’s pastoral rangelands are essential to our economy and the wellbeing of our regional communities. They provide regional jobs and support the growth of our red meat and wool industries.

    We would like to unlock their potential to achieve positive outcomes for our state. With no significant changes to the legislation for the past 30 years, the new Pastoral Lands Act will reflect the modern needs of South Australia’s pastoral industry.

    The following key changes are being proposed. You can read a more comprehensive version of the changes in the Explanatory Guide.

    • The new Act will help lessees make long-term investment decisions with long term leases up to 100-years
    • Enable pastoral lessees to take advantage of seasonal opportunities and vary stocking rates while still maintaining land condition
    • It will support lessees to diversify their income and support pastoral businesses using the land for appropriate non-pastoral purposes, such as tourism
    • Retain the main focus of the land. The pastoral rangelands are for pastoralism and any other land uses should not detract from this primary use
    • Continue to provide for a Pastoral Board, which will ensure good land management practices are in place to grow the pastoral industry. A new nomination committee will ensure appropriately skilled and experienced members are identified for the Minister to appoint, with the majority of Board members drawn from current lessees
    • Public access routes will remain
    • Better address inappropriate behaviour from those visiting or travelling through pastoral lands by establishing an offence for misuse including trespass, littering, hunting or shooting without legal authority
    • The health of these natural environments will continue to be monitored with condition assessments required every 10 years. This assessment will be done by a qualified team, using the best available technology
    • The rights of Aboriginal people will continue to be upheld, including acknowledging Indigenous Land Use Agreements
    • The Pastoral Lands Fund will have greater flexibility in how it can be used to support the new Act’s administration and objectives
    • Lessees retain the right to seek a review of decisions under the Act. The Board will be required to publish a record of its meetings, with at least two public meetings a year held within the pastoral rangelands
    • For those who do the wrong thing, the new Act will have stronger powers to intervene and change behaviours, with significant penalties for breaching the conditions of a lease or using the land inappropriately.

    Conservation and sustainability of these natural environments is integral to ensure long-term sustainable use of these unique landscapes.The new Act will ensure our lessees can maximise their business opportunities while ensuring they look after the land for our future generations.