UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

The Hon. R.B. SUCH (Fisher) (14:45): My question is to the Minister for Police, who also wears the hat of Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, are you aware that people were using drones to fly over the Blue Mountains during the recent bushfires, putting the lives of pilots in firefighting helicopters and water bombers at risk? If so, are you planning to seek some controls over this rapidly expanding activity here in South Australia?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Finance, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:46): Yes, I am, member for Fisher, because you rang my office. That aside, I do actually appreciate you bringing this issue to my notice. I sought advice, and I tracked down a number of articles in the New South Wales media. It was a bit of an issue in New South Wales.

On the Saturday, as you are well aware, member for Fisher, there was a drone sighted in the vicinity of probably the major fire in the area, known as the State Mine. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service were considering prohibiting the deployment of firefighting aircraft to that area because of the concern for potential collision and an aircraft coming down.

I have checked, and part 101 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations prohibits the use of commercial and recreational remotely-piloted aircraft operating in controlled or restricted airspace. So, in response to your inquiry and this particular question, I will be writing to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to get some guidance as to whether they would have a preference for the Country Fire Service in South Australia, on days in which we are fighting fires, to be indicating a warning that these drones are not to be used, or whether they will take it on board as their responsibility. But we definitely require the clarity.

I am sure in years to come, if not at this particular point in time, the media will be making use of drones to get footage over a fire. I am working on the assumption that they will act responsibly, but it may well be that some individuals will want to fly effectively a mobile camera over a fire for their own interest. So, I am writing to CASA to get a clear indication as to whether they want the Country Fire Service, on the days of bushfire, to be issuing the warning, or whether they will take it upon themselves to issue that particular warning.