Biodiversity Act

The South Australian Government is developing new legislation to protect and conserve biodiversity.

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

A new Biodiversity Act will seek to protect native plants, animals and ecosystems, ensuring there is a dual focus on both preventing damage to the environment as well as restoring nature. Importantly the Act will also incorporate the knowledge of Aboriginal South Australians in the management of land and respect for its ecosystems.

From the air we breathe to the water we drink, we rely on the earth’s biodiversity. If you’d like to learn more about the important role biodiversity plays in sustaining our everyday lives, check out our video with Tim Jarvis AM.

This page will be regularly updated with news, developments and announcements relevant to the Biodiversity Act. To stay informed, subscribe here.

What's been done so far?

An initial community consultation took place from December 2023 to March 2024 to gather feedback on the priorities for the new Act, focussed on topics identified in a discussion paper. A consultation report is available, summarising what we heard as part of this consultation process.

Initial engagement with First Nations peak bodies and groups was undertaken in early 2024. Workshops were held in Adelaide, Ceduna, Port Augusta, Berri, and online. A consultation report from those initial workshops is available, summarising the feedback we heard in those sessions.

Engagement with First Nations people is ongoing and is an important element to guide the development of the draft Bill.

What’s next?

The draft Bill is currently being prepared, informed by community feedback, with an upcoming public consultation likely to occur early in 2025. Once the details are confirmed, further updates will be made on this page, or you can subscribe to be kept informed.

South Australia’s biodiversity champion

We’re partnering with Tim Jarvis AM to help us inform the community about the development of the new Act and encourage people to get involved. Tim was named 2024 Australian of the Year for South Australia. He is an internationally recognised environmental scientist and adventurer, with more than 25 years of experience in both disciplines. Tim is passionate about environmental advocacy which is reflected in the wide range of initiatives he supports and works on, including supporting conservation charities, his recent 4 years of patronage of Nature Play SA and 5 years’ service on the board of Zoos SA who are leading work in endangered species conservation.

Keep up to date

From government to industries and individuals, all of us must to come together to address the challenges facing our biodiversity. To get involved and keep up-to-date: