On 13 October 2016, the Senate moved that the following matters be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 27 April 2017. On 16 February 2017, the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 6 December 2017.​ On 16 November 2017, the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 28 March 2018. On 22 March 2017, the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 31 July 2018.

Submissions should be received by 15 December 2016.

1. current and future regulatory requirements that impact on the safe commercial and recreational use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and associated systems, including consideration of:
   1. Civil Aviation Safety Regulation Part 101,
   2. local design and manufacture of RPAS and associated systems,
   3. importation of RPAS and associated systems,
   4. state and local government regulation, and
   5. overseas developments, including work by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and overseas aviation regulatory jurisdictions;
2. the existing industry and likely future social and economic impact of RPAS technology;
3. the international regulatory/governance environment for RPAS technology and its comparison to Australian regulation;
4. current and future options for improving regulatory compliance, public safety and national security through education, professional standards, training, insurance and enforcement;
5. the relationship between aviation safety and other regulation of RPAS for example, regulation by state and local government agencies on public safety, security and privacy grounds;
6. the potential recreational and commercial uses of RPAS, including agriculture, mining, infrastructure assessment, search and rescue, fire and policing operations, aerial mapping and scientific research;
7. insurance requirements of both private and commercial users/operators, including consideration of the suitability of existing data protection, liability and insurance regimes, and whether these are sufficient to meet growing use of RPAS;
8. the use of current and emerging RPAS and other aviation technologies to enhance aviation safety; and
9. any other related matters.