On the 5 September 2022, the Senate referred an inquiry into the spread of climate-related marine invasive species to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 March 2023, with the following terms of reference:

The spread of climate-related marine invasive species, particularly long spined sea urchins (Centrostephanus rodgersii) along the Great Southern Reef, with particular reference to:

(a) the existing body of research and knowledge on the risks for and damage to marine biodiversity, habitat and fisheries caused by the proliferation and range shifting of non-endemic long spined sea urchins;
(b) management options, challenges and opportunities to better mitigate or adapt to these threats, and governance measures that are inclusive of First Nations communities;
(c) funding requirements, responsibility, and pathways to better manage and co-ordinate stopping the spread of climate-related marine invasive species;
(d) the importance of tackling the spread of invasive urchin ‘barrens’ to help facilitate marine ecosystem restoration efforts (such as for Tasmanian Giant Kelp Macrocystis pyrifera); and
(e) any other related matters.

The closing date for submissions is 13 October 2022.

On 8 March 2023, the Senate accepted a progress report by the committee that recommended an extension of time to report until 31 July 2023.

On 31 July 2023, the committee was granted an extension of time for the report until 12 September 2023.

On 11 September 2023, the committee was granted an extension of time for the report until 18 October 2023.

On 18 October 2023, the committee was granted an extension of time for the report until 2 November 2023.

On 31 October 2023, the committee was granted an extension of time for the report until 3 November 2023.