On 20 August 2015 the Senate referred the following matter to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by the last sitting day in March 2016. 

On 15 March 2016, the Senate extended the reporting date for the inquiry to 1 April 2016.

The capability of Defence's physical science and engineering (PSE) workforce.

Submissions to this inquiry close on 16 October 2015.