The Queensland state government is facing fierce criticism from the medical community after walking back its planned ban on e-bikes and e-scooters for children under the age of sixteen. Instead of the outright prohibition that was widely supported following a parliamentary inquiry, the government is now proposing that children can use the devices under adult supervision with reduced speed limits.
Under the revised proposals, e-bikes and e-scooters would be limited to twelve kilometres per hour on footpaths, increasing to twenty-five kilometres per hour in shared zones when no pedestrians are present. All unsupervised users would be required to carry a licence, with exemptions carved out for those who use the devices for medical reasons. Parents of unsupervised children could face fines exceeding six hundred dollars.
The Australian Medical Association responded with fury, saying the decision effectively puts the state back at square one. The AMA pointed out that twelve lives were lost in Queensland last year as a result of e-mobility device related incidents, and that hospitals remain overwhelmed by the number of children presenting with serious injuries from e-bike and e-scooter accidents.
Doctors argued that the provisions around supervision muddy the water around enforcement. A clear-cut ban on children under sixteen would be far easier for parents, law enforcement and children themselves to understand and follow, compared to a complex system of supervision requirements and speed limits that varies by location.
The proposed laws are expected to be debated in Parliament as early as today, with the legislation set to come into effect from July the first. The speed at which the government is moving to pass the laws despite the medical community objections has raised concerns about whether adequate consultation has taken place.
The parliamentary inquiry that prompted the legislative changes documented widespread concern about the safety risks posed by e-mobility devices, particularly for young riders who may lack the judgment and experience to operate them safely in mixed traffic and pedestrian environments.
The debate reflects a broader national conversation about balancing the growing popularity of electric personal transport devices with public safety, particularly for children. Other Australian states are watching Queensland closely as they develop their own regulatory frameworks for a technology that has rapidly outpaced the laws designed to govern its use.