National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975

This Act establishes the framework for creating and managing national parks, reserves, and conservation zones across Australian territories and Commonwealth land, including iconic sites like Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta.

Key things it does:

• Creates the Director of National Parks: A corporation sole (legal entity) responsible for managing parks, protecting wildlife, and preparing management plans.

• Declaring Parks: Allows the Governor-General to proclaim areas as parks or reserves by Gazette notice, including over Commonwealth land, coastal seas, continental shelves, and Aboriginal land held under lease.

• Aboriginal Co-management: Requires consultation with traditional Aboriginal owners and Land Councils. For "prescribed parks" (Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Jervis Bay), establishes Boards with majority Aboriginal membership nominated by traditional owners to jointly prepare management plans with the Director.

• Mining Restrictions: Bans mineral recovery operations entirely in Kakadu National Park. Elsewhere, mining is only permitted with Governor-General approval and in accordance with management plans. Includes special oversight powers for uranium mining in the Alligator Rivers Region.

• Enforcement Powers: Grants wardens, rangers, and wildlife inspectors authority to arrest without warrant, search vehicles/premises (with or without warrants), seize suspected illegal items, and issue fines for offences like illegal hunting or environmental damage.