- The Crisafulli Government has passed nation-leading e-mobility laws, which will take effect from 1 July.
- The laws will give Queensland Police the powers they need to crackdown on illegal and high-powered e-mobility devices.
- Labor voted to allow hoons and hooligans to continue to terrorise Queenslanders.
- Part of the Crisafulli Government’s plan to make Queensland safer after a decade of decline under the former Labor Government.
The Crisafulli Government has passed nation-leading e-mobility laws through Parliament this week in response to widespread community concerns over the proliferation of illegal and high-powered devices throughout Labor’s decade of decline.
Despite their repeated calls for a knee-jerk response, Labor voted against the laws and in favour of the continued proliferation of high-powered and illegal devices on Queensland streets, and to make Queensland less safe.
From 1 July, there will be a crackdown of the most dangerous e-scooter and e-bike behaviours on roads and paths, that is putting the community at risk, with the full reforms to take effect from 31 August.
The stronger laws will deliver:
- Police powers to seize and destroy illegal devices from July 1.
- Police powers to conduct random breath tests for riders in public places from July 1.
- E-bikes and scooters which can exceed 25km/h unassisted will be banned and 12km speed limits to apply near pedestrians, from July 1.
- Higher penalties for speeding, failure to wear a helmet, careless riding, illegally carrying passengers and riding Personal Mobility Devices on prohibited roads from July 1.
- Licensing requirements for riders, with exemptions for medical conditions and disabilities, and ability for 12–17-year-olds to ride under parental supervision from August 31.
- Parental accountability for children under 16 riding illegally, from July 1.
Riders over the 0.05 blood alcohol limit will face fines of more than $500, with maximum court penalties of up to $6,908.
Those aged 12-17 can use e-mobility devices with parental supervision, and those with a medical condition or disability who don’t have a licence will be able to use e-mobility devices under a medical exemption framework.
The Crisafulli Government took a methodical, evidence-based approach – informed by community feedback – to deliver these laws which are practical, enforceable, and will help make Queensland safer.
Even before Labor sided with those doing the wrong thing, it was clear the former Labor Government left Queensland Police ill-equipped to enforce regulations, while they introduced a botched subsidy scheme, wasting $2m in taxpayers’ money, and turned a blind eye to the rise of illegal high-powered devices.
As a result of the former Labor Government’s decisions, more than 6,000 injuries related to e-scooters were reported at Emergency Departments across 36 Queensland hospitals between 2022 and 2025.
Following extensive community engagement, the laws were amended so those aged 12-17 can use e-mobility devices with parental supervision, and those with a medical condition or disability who don’t have a licence will be able to use e-mobility devices under a medical exemption framework.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the Crisafulli Government was responding to concerns from the community around e-scooter and e-bike use in Queensland.
“After Labor’s decade of inaction, we always said we would make the tough decisions to keep the community safe,” Minister Mickelberg said.
“Labor’s hypocrisy on this is breathtaking. After a year calling for knee jerk reactions and band-aid solutions, they voted to back the hoons and the hooligans who are terrorising Queenslanders.
“The Crisafulli Government is committed to making Queenslanders safer – while Labor has voted to kick the can down the road and for the problem to keep getting worse.
“Our reforms are based on extensive community and expert consultation, and they strike the right balance between keeping Queenslanders safe from those doing the wrong thing, while backing those who do the right thing.
“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 will do exactly that.”
