Queensland will introduce sweeping new e-mobility laws from July 1, giving police stronger powers to target illegal and high-powered e-scooters and e-bikes, with further reforms to take effect from August 31.
The nation-leading e-mobility laws will be debated in state parliament this week.
Under the first stage of the reforms, police would be able to seize and destroy illegal devices, conduct random breath tests on riders in public places and enforce a ban on e-bikes and e-scooters capable of exceeding 25km/h unassisted.
New 12km/h speed limits would apply in areas with pedestrians, while penalties would increase for speeding, riding without a helmet, carrying passengers illegally, careless riding and using personal mobility devices on prohibited roads.
Parents would also be held accountable for children under 16 who ride illegally. This reform opposes a parliamentary committee recommendation to the Queensland Government in March to introduce a blanket ban on riders under the age of 16.
Riders over the 0.05 blood alcohol limit will face fines exceeding $500 and maximum court penalties of up to $6,908.
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A second tranche of reforms will begin on August 31, introducing mandatory licensing requirements for riders. Exemptions would apply for people with medical conditions or disabilities, while children aged 12 to 17 would be permitted to ride under parental supervision.
The changes respond to growing community concerns about the rise of illegal and high-powered devices. More than 6,000 e-scooter-related injuries were reported at emergency departments across 36 Queensland hospitals between 2022 and 2025.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg said the reforms were designed to improve safety while allowing responsible riders to continue using the devices.
“Our reforms are based on extensive community and expert consultation and they strike the right balance between making our streets safer from those who do the wrong thing, while backing those people who do the right thing,” he said.
“We promised to deliver nation-leading laws about who can ride, what they can ride, where they can ride, and how fast – and our laws do exactly that.”
Amy’s Foundation managing director and former Olympian Katherine Bates welcomed the focus on reducing harm.
“Of the 12 e-mobility deaths in Queensland last year, only one involved a legal e-bike,” Ms Bates said.
“The harm comes from illegal, high-powered devices, and these laws are right to target that.
“Queensland led the country on minimum passing distance laws more than a decade ago and these reforms continue that work of putting safety first. We welcome the government acting on the evidence here.
“We look forward to the new regulations and to seeing that harm come down, supported by consistent enforcement, on e-mobility devices and on minimum passing distance laws alike.”
