National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975

13 March 1975

The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 was used to create national parks and reserves and to strengthen laws about the protection and conservation of wildlife in Australia. The Act also defined how national parks would be managed and allowed parks and reserves to be used for tourism.

The Act aimed to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had access to and were involved in managing traditional lands. Kakadu National Park was declared under the Act in three stages between 1979 and 1991. Under the structures created in the Act, Aboriginal representatives must be involved in managing the Aboriginal lands within the park.

Uluru and Kata Tjuṯa (Ayers Rock-Mt Olga) National Park – now named Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park – was created under the Act in 1977. In 1985, this Act and the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 were changed to allow the park to be jointly managed by the Anangu traditional owners and the Australian Government.

In 1983 the Government introduced new regulations under the Act and passed the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983. This was in response to the Tasmanian state government’s attempt to dam the Franklin River. The new laws made sure the Franklin River was protected.