The South Australian Government has passed the Wilderness Protection (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2012, which it says will ensure the ongoing protection of wilderness in the State.

State Environment Minister, Ian Hunter, said the Bill would help bring the Wilderness Protection Act into line with the National Parks and Wildlife Act.

“One of the principle aims of the Bill was to provide for co-management of wilderness protection areas with Aboriginal people. It now formally recognises the significance of many parks to Aboriginal people and acknowledges their connection to Country and involvement in management,” Mr Hunter said.

“The proclamation of the Nullarbor Wilderness Protection area in the coming months will be one of the most significant achievements for wilderness protection in this state. Showcasing over 900,000 hectares of land, the Nullarbor environment is an iconic piece of Australian landscape and a popular tourist destination.”