On 28 June 2018, the Senate referred the Defence Amendment (Sovereign Naval Shipbuilding) Bill 2018 to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 15 October 2018.

Submissions close 10 August 2018.

On 15 October 2018 the Senate agreed to extend the reporting date to 5 December 2018.

On 26 November 2018 the Senate agreed to extend the reporting date to the last sitting day in the first sitting week in February 2019.