A committee report into a bill that would require Canberra Airport to provide master plans every eight years rather than the current five has been extended to March next year in the wake of the Essendon plane crash.
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The Senate committee overseeing regional transport was originally due to provide a report on the Airports Amendments Bill by March 28.
The bill would change the submission requirements for 15 Commonwealth-owned airports, including Canberra, that were leased to private operators.
Master plans are required every five years for such airports, which detail "a strategic direction for efficient and economic development".
Companies are also required to provide major development plans for any upgrades or projects worth $20 million or more.
Under the proposed legislation, Canberra, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin and nine regional or minor metropolitan airports would only need to submit master plans every eight years, while master development plans would be required from $35 million.
Five major metropolitan airports would continue to report every five years.
The bill would tighten noise exposure forecast reporting.
While airports are required to provide such forecasts in every master plan, the bill would mandate that the report be renewed each time.
Transport Minister Darren Chester asked the committee to consider extending the inquiry after the death of five people in a plane crash near Essendon Airport on February 21.
In an interim report delivered on March 28, the committee said investigations into the crash could be relevant to its consideration of the bill
"Sufficient time should be provided to allow the investigations to proceed and for the committee to then properly consider their findings," the report said.
"Therefore, the committee recommends that its inquiry on the bill be extended to allow consideration of the investigations and any other relevant aviation regulation developments."
All submissions the inquiry received before the extension, including those from Canberra Airport and the ACT government, would still be considered, the report said.
In Canberra Airport's submission to the inquiry, planning and government relations director Noel McCann said the company supported the bill.
"We are encouraged by the government's approach to adjust the planning framework, taking account of differences in large and medium sized airports," he said.
"The challenge is to inch the legislative framework forward by cutting regulatory red tape and burden and in so doing keep pace with the push for national productivity gains."
The ACT government also supported the amendments, describing them as "sensible measures to streamline on-airport operations" in a submission from strategic policy and Cabinet executive director Geoffrey Rutledge.
"Canberra Airport covers a larger catchment area, and fulfils a more strategic role, than most other secondary airports."
The final report is due by the first sitting week in March next year.
