Canberra Liberals call for parliamentary inquiry into drone …

The push comes after Canberra Labor MP Gai Brodtmann last week called for an independent review of the trial after being flooded with negative feedback from the community.

Mr Wall said the Liberals supported innovation and new technologies, but wanted to ensure they were appropriately regulated.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority approved and has been monitoring the trial, but the ACT government has remained largely uninvolved in overseeing the process.

Both authorities have referred residents seeking to make complaints about the trial to Wing, prompting accusations their concerns aren’t being properly dealt with.

Wing, a US-based start up with links to tech giant Google, has chosen not to publicly release information on the number of delivery flights or complaints it has received during the trial.

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“A lot of the [communities] concern stems from an uncertainty over who is actually responsible for oversight of the operation of the trial,” Mr Wall said.

“This is a classic case of a very new technology – this is one of the first places in the world where the technology is being tested.

“Investment in the ACT is always welcome, but it’s clear that the regulation has probably not kept pace with the innovation.”

The proposed inquiry would cover six terms of references, including Wing’s decision to trial the service in Bonython, possible economic benefits, including job creation, as well as the potential to collaborate with industry, schools and universities.

The extent of regulatory oversight would also be scrutinised, along with the effects of drone flights on residents, wildlife and domestic animals.

“This isn’t a motion to say ‘let’s stop and abandon it’, though those views do exist within the community,” Mr Wall said. “It’s appropriate that we look at this, and also learn the lessons. It is not just a learning process for the company involved, but for the whole community.”

The Bonython trial is scheduled to finish in February.