Apparently in Europe, the sort of access to wilderness areas that we take for granted here is, such as camping and 4WDing is forbidden. Maybe that could work here. Lock it all up and then there's no worries about rubbish, unattended fires, vandalism or the cost of enforcement.
Although such an approach would solve all the issues most effectively, I don't think too many Australians want to see that happen, yet we are inching ever closer to it as each year goes by; more track closures, more regulation and more constraint on what is considered acceptable and safe.
I liken it to cars and roads. We all know roads are very dangerous and that hundreds are killed every year. We regulate to minimise that through speed limits, seat belts and wotnot but road deaths are still common. Solution... ban cars. Too extreme? then what about reducing the speed limit to 1. Without a doubt many hundreds of lives would be saved, yet we don't do this. Why? because we have collectively decided (whether consciously or not) that road deaths, along with pollution, environmental destruction, etc are acceptable consequences of the freedom, lifestyle and convenience provided by the road transport system and private car ownership.
Likewise with camping, 4WD and public access to wilderness. Though not in the same league as my example, if we decide collectively as a society that these freedoms are desirable and worth keeping then we must also accept that there is a price in the form of environmental damage, risk of bushfire, accidental deaths and so on. They are minimised through appropriate regulation and enforcement but will never be eliminated unless those activities are banned completely.
If that is to happen then let it be called for what it is, debated openly and voted on. Not introduced by stealth and attrition as has been happening for decades.
