Our advocacy has continued regarding reckless electric bike, scooter and illegal motorbike usage with the latest updates below, including recent responses from the Minister for Transport and Main Roads (TMR). We will continue to post when new information becomes available to Noosa 360.
Enhanced awareness and education
The Minister for TMR has advised that they are undertaking actions to further embed e-mobility education into schools, including the deployment of road safety officers in schools to deliver interactive presentations in collaboration with the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
Furthermore, the minister said that his department continues to implement communications pieces, with a targeted package of information now being drafted specifically for school communities, including newsletters, factsheets, brochures and other collateral.
Age limits
As mentioned in our May 2025 Noosa 360 update, Sandy has continued efforts to see consistent age limits applied between compliant electric bikes and electric scooters. When using the latter, riders must be 16+ years old if unsupervised or 12+ years old if supervised by an adult. The Minister for TMR responded with the following in italics to our latest advocacy.
It is important to remember that electric bicycles (e-bikes) operate under a separate framework than that of e-scooters and other Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs). Under Queensland’s current regulations, legal e-bikes, which can only be throttle controlled up to 6 km/h and are mostly powered by human pedaling, are effectively bicycles.
We note legal e-bikes can only throttle up to 6 km/h and are mostly powered by human pedaling and illegal e-bikes are not legal on any Queensland pathway or road. However, as residents have raised, considering reports of widespread illegal modification, age limits would still assist in getting the message to parents that children are not equipped to use these devices appropriately, which we have reiterated to the minister’s office.
Retailers
A previous response from the Minister for TMR outlined that their department have written to approximately 200 Queensland e-bike retailers, reminding them of the rules and their responsibilities. In addition, the minister stated that they would be writing to the Attorney General to seek their support in more Office of Fair Trading (OFT) resourcing for enforcement of retailers supplying illegal devices under false or misleading claims. We have requested progress on this and will update once a response has been received.
Imports (Federal Government)
Considering the high number of electric bikes, scooters and motorbikes that do not comply with Australian Design Rules (ADR) being imported from overseas and being purchased online, this needs to be raised at the national level. The Minister for TMR has previously committed to advocate with the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Sandy has also asked for an update regarding this. The federal minister has recently responded to a Question Without Notice in the Australian Parliament about e-bikes that do not meet minimum quality or safety standards being imported. Below is an extract from that answer, which can be viewed in full on page 47 at https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansardr/28846/toc_pdf/House%20of%20Representatives_2025_09_02.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#page=47.
It is clear that a broader and coordinated national system is needed for both the safer use and the regulation of these devices. It is why, at the meeting of state and territory transport ministers last month, I placed this issue on the agenda. At the meeting, state and territory ministers agreed to develop an integrated regulatory framework for these devices to improve rider and pedestrian safety. That work is being led by the Western Australian government with support from the National Transport Commission. It will consider issues including compliance, regulation, rules for use, and the development and ongoing monitoring of standards. This work will report back to infrastructure and transport ministers later this year.
Regarding the ADR, we encourage all to continue sharing their views with our federal government representatives.
Activity in national parks
We understand that in response to illegal electric bike, motorbike and scooter activities, Queensland Parks and Wildlife are increasing rangers and compliance patrols. Sandy has written to the Minister for Environment asking for an update on operations.
Registration and insurance
While the Parliamentary Inquiry into e-mobility safety and use in Queensland is underway, the Minister for TMR has advised that their department is not considering any regulatory changes that may pre-empt the findings and recommendations of the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee. The minister has assured that thorough consideration of recommendations of the committee will be undertaken.
We appreciate this and thank the minister and the committee for the work already undertaken. However, we must ensure changes do not arrive too late to prevent avoidable injuries and fatalities. As mentioned in our July 2025 Noosa 360 update, 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, according to Sunshine Coast Bicycle User Group. Consideration needs to be given to the implementation of a registration scheme with number plates for all electric bikes to use for identification purposes including the third-party insurance coverage, as currently used for mobility scooters.
id-tag trial
E- Bike Safety Australia are currently conducting an id-tag trial at Cronulla High School this school term and we will share the results with our local schools once received for their consideration in adopting.
Resident rights
In response to residents enquiring about what their rights are in relation to citizen arrests, and their ability to confiscate and detain before police arrive, we have obtained the following advice in italics from the state government.
Minister for Police: I am advised while there are powers under the Queensland Criminal Code which allow for citizens arrests, they are only to be used in the most serious of circumstances and not to support citizens with traffic law enforcement. Therefore, citizens have no legislative authority to arrest riders of electric bikes and scooters, or to seize these bikes for traffic related offences. I am informed the complexity of the law, lack of training or protection from liability make citizen arrests problematic and not a practice to be encouraged.
Attorney General’s office: the Department of Justice cannot provide specific legal advice to members of the public and the following information is not intended to serve as legal advice. Constituents are encouraged to seek independent legal advice should they require more specific guidance on this topic.
First and foremost, if a member of the public believes that a criminal offence is occurring, they should report the matter to the Queensland Police Service (QPS). In an emergency the QPS can be contacted on 000 or in non-urgent circumstances via PoliceLink on 131 444.
A ‘citizen’s arrest’ refers colloquially to an arrest carried out by a member of the public rather than a person acting with authority in the course of duty, such as a police officer.
Conducting a citizen’s arrest is inherently risky. Any person attempting to conduct such an arrest should proceed with caution. Caution should be exercised, not only with regard to personal safety, but also with the knowledge that the person carrying out the arrest may expose themselves to both criminal and civil action as a result of carrying out an unlawful citizen’s arrest. An unlawful citizen’s arrest may result in the arresting party being charged with a criminal offence, such as assault or deprivation of liberty, or sued for false imprisonment or assault.
What is required for a lawful citizen’s arrest will depend on the circumstances of the situation. It is paramount that a person conducting a citizen’s arrest not to exceed their authority and be scrupulous in carrying out the duties required of them under the Criminal Code (see below). A person must only use force necessary and reasonable in the particular circumstances.
In Queensland, there is a limited power for members of the public to perform an arrest in certain circumstances. Those circumstances are prescribed under Chapter 58 of the Criminal Code and include:
- when a police officer requests their assistance in carrying out a lawful arrest;
- when a person finds someone who they believe on reasonable grounds to be escaping from another person carrying out a lawful arrest (for example, a person escaping from a police officer who is carrying out a lawful arrest);
- when the person finds another person committing an indictable offence (which are serious crimes or misdemeanours) at night;
- when the person finds another person committing an offence, or believes the person has committed an offence, for which an arrest by police may be carried out without a warrant;
- when the person believes on reasonable grounds that the property another person offers to sell, pawn or deliver to them has been acquired by means of an offence for which a person may be arrested without a warrant.
A person conducting a citizen’s arrest may arrest a person without warrant on the same basis as prescribed for police officers under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000. That is, where it is necessary to arrest a person without a warrant to:
- prevent the commission of an offence;
- make enquiries to establish the person’s identity;
- ensure the person appears before a court;
- obtain or preserve evidence;
- prevent the harassment of a potential witness;
- prevent the fabrication of evidence;
- preserve the safety of a person;
- prevent the person fleeing.
A person exercising a citizen’s arrest must also comply with obligations under the Criminal Code. A person who carries out an arrest must take the arrested party to a justice to be dealt with according to law, or to deliver the arrested party to the custody of a police officer without delay.
Noosa electorate residents wishing to provide feedback on any of the above information, please email our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.
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.