The announcement of the Parliamentary Inquiry into e-mobility safety, mentioned in our May 2025 Noosa 360 update was welcomed, however, with the committee report still nine months away as of writing, communities across Queensland understandably continue to calling for increased action before more injuries and deaths occur.
According to Sunshine Coast Bicycle User Group, presentations to hospital emergency departments continue to escalate, with the latest figures showing an increase to approx. 150 per month in 2025, up from 106 per month two years ago.
As part of our continued advocacy regarding needed reforms suggested by our community to curb reckless electric bike, scooter and illegal motorbike usage, which has included enforcement, legislation, insurance, and registration, the Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads has now provided the below response in italics to our most recent advocacy. This includes a commitment to actively seek the support of other state ministers and the federal government and that they are investigating initial actions.
As you know, a Parliamentary Inquiry into e-mobility safety in Queensland has commenced. The State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee (committee) will consider the issue and hold public hearings, before reporting back by 30 March 2026.
I appreciate your dedication to road safety and to your electorate. I agree that the issues we are seeing, and the increasing injuries and lives lost, are unacceptable. I can assure you that I am taking this matter seriously and I have tasked my department with a range of initial actions to tackle the problem. I have responded to your suggestions below, highlighting the work already underway or planned.
Enhanced awareness and education
My department is currently preparing educational materials for distribution to schools to promote the road rules for e-mobility devices and clarify the confusion about the legality of e-bikes.
Encouragingly, several Queensland school principals have already taken action to ban some e-mobility devices from being parked on school property. My department will work with the department of Education and other education peak bodies, to encourage more principals to do the same.
I note that your letter refers to delivering road safety content through the Queensland curriculum. My department recently launched a new version of the Journi online road safety education program, which is a free program which includes content about Queensland’s e-scooter and bicycle rules. Journi is not just for teachers, and my department encourages anyone with school-age children to sign up and learn. You may wish to share this link: https://journi.au/
Enforcement
Enforcement of the road rules is the responsibility of the Queensland Police Service (OPS). As such, I am writing to the Honourable Dan Purdie MP, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to seek his continued support with implementing targeted enforcement activities and ensuring that enforcement of e-mobility road rules remains a priority for OPS.
Legislation and retailers
The legislative definition of an e-bike is based on national model laws and Australian Government vehicle determinations. Nonetheless I appreciate this can be complex. That is why our first priority is to clarify the confusion about e-mobility devices and the rules for safe use.
The community must be aware that illegal devices cannot be ridden on any public infrastructure, and that severe penalties of more than $1580 apply for riding unregistered and uninsured vehicles. Your suggestion to implement legislative changes are noted and I will ensure my department considers these during any future reviews.
My department has also recently written to approximately 200 Queensland e-bike retailers, reminding them of the rules, their responsibilities as retailers and the penalties applicable for false or misleading sales to customers. My department will collaborate with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to undertake this task. I am also writing to the Honorable Deb Frecklington MP, Attorney General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity, to seek her support in more OFT resourcing for enforcement of retailers supplying illegal devices under false or misleading claims.
Federal importation laws
Federal importation laws should play a critical role in preventing non-compliant devices from entering Australia. Unfortunately, it is too easy for these devices to be imported, and the Australian Government needs to play a greater role to stop this.
I have previously written to the Honorable Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, about strengthening importation laws and I will again raise these issues with Minister King.
Registration and insurance
High-speed, high-powered devices which exceed Queensland’s legal standards are not considered e-bikes, even if fitted with pedals. Instead, they are considered illegal electric motorcycles. Registration and compulsory insurance of these devices is not considered a practical solution, as this would legitimise devices and make removing them from our paths and roads much more difficult.
Local regulation and infrastructure
My department works closely with over 20 councils across Queensland as part of the e-Mobility Safety Reference Group. This group included broad representation from governments, industry and safety advocates. This provides a forum for local councils to participate in regulatory reforms, learn from each other, hear directly from the e-mobility industry and also address concerns raised by road users, disability advocates, and trauma specialists. Key topics have included infrastructure, parking problems, education and communications, and enforcement.
Parliamentary Inquiry into a-mobility safety and use in Queensland
As mentioned, the Queensland Government has referred a Parliamentary Inquiry into e-mobility safety and use in Queensland to the committee. The inquiry will enable a thorough investigation into e-mobility safety, with a focus on practical improvements to safety and meeting community expectations.
The inquiry will consider:
- the benefits of e-mobility devices
- safety risks
- the current rules and how they compare with other jurisdictions
- enforcement approaches
- importation laws
- lithium-ion battery fire and safety issues
- communication and education
- stakeholder views.
I note that the solutions you propose in your letter may be of use to the committee during their investigations. I encourage you to provide a submission to the inquiry, outlining your community’s perspectives. All related information can be found here: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-Committees/Committees/Committee-Details?cid=272&id=4522, The closing date for written submissions is 12 pm, 20 June 2025.
In response, Sandy has provided the minister a copy of our submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry as well as other measures from residents that could be undertaken including applying age limits to electric bikes for consistency. In addition, as registration and licensing are methods continually raised by residents, we have reiterated the need. We understand concerns with potentially legitimising illegal motorbikes; however, any scheme should consider the experience of those on the National Disability Insurance Scheme using mobility devices
With our schools calling for more school-based officers to assist with this issue and others, Sandy wrote to and met with the Minister for Police requesting further investigations be undertaken including potentially utilising special constables to address this. In addition, she met with E Bike Safety Australia to discuss their id-tag trial initiative for identification and licensing, which commenced in term 3 at Cronulla High School in New South Wales. We will be monitoring for the results and continue efforts with our local schools to source a pilot site here. Further information on EBSA is available at https://ebikesafetyaustralia.com.au
We will continue to update as more information becomes available.
Further information
For those wishing to directly advocate, consider emailing the Minister for Transport and Main Roads via transportandmainroads@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please copy our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward us any response you receive.
Although submissions have closed for the Parliamentary Inquiry, you can still contact them on SDIWC@parliament.qld.gov.au and request your correspondence be considered as a late submission. Further information on the Inquiry is available at www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-Committees/Committees/Committee-Details?cid=272&id=4522.
For our previous Noosa 360 updates on electric bikes and scooters, please visit www.sandybolton.com/?s=Electric+Bikes.
Sandy asks all in our community to assist our police by reporting offenders to Policelink on 131 444 or by lodging an online report at www.police.qld.gov.au/policelink-reporting. For anyone who has CCTV cameras, you can register with the Community Camera Alliance at www.police.qld.gov.au/safety-and-preventing-crime/community-camera-alliance.