WA to lead charge for a national ban on high-powered e-rideables but not until later this year

WA will take charge of drafting a national overhaul of e-rideables that could lead to high-powered vehicles being banned. Transport ministers from across the country met in Melbourne on Monday and agreed to develop a regulatory framework after a surge in deaths and serious injuries. WA was nominated to take the lead, to draft a framework to be debated before the end of the year. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said all States agreed that stricter rules were needed around what e-scooters and e-motorbikes could be imported. “We don’t know how high-powered they are, they are not part of any registration process so there’s a lot of concern about these e-rideables” she said. “WA together with the National Transport Commission, a Commonwealth body, so the State and the Commonwealth will be working on options in relation to what can be done, whether it be under the consumer codes or the consumer protection agencies or the transport agencies. “The first is to find out what can be done and then we’ll have some decision processes later. “But it’s clear whether it’s been what is currently being imported or modifications at the stores . . . it’s about how we can get a framework that is consistent.” A joint communique by all transport ministers called for broad safety management options and warned about the fire risk of battery-powered devices. “Ministers observed that personal mobility devices bring a range of benefits to the Australian community but also new risks that must be managed,” it said. “Ministers noted work underway under the Australian Consumer Ministers Network to examine the safety of the lithium-ion batteries used in personal mobility devices and ongoing discussions between Commonwealth, State and Territory transport officials to identify and explore broader safety management options. “Ministers agreed to work together to develop an integrated regulatory framework to be led by WA . . . a draft framework will be considered by Infrastructure and Transport Ministers later this year.” An inquiry into e-rideables is already underway in WA, sparked by the death of father Thanh Phan, who was hit by a speeding e-scooter while walking in the Perth CBD in May — one of 10 deaths involving e-rideable crashes since 2021. The parliamentary committee has been asked to investigate speed limits, bans in entertainment districts and penalties. It will also hear evidence about how existing regulations are often ignored and how e-rideables are modified to go faster. Tim Burns, active transport officer at Westcycle, said it was clear that Federal regulations needed to be strengthened, given changes in 2021 directly allowed for e-bikes that can be tampered with and that can reach high-speeds to be imported. It has led to Australia having a flood of devices that do not meet European standards — readily purchased online, he said. “This particular regulation pertains to e-bikes only but a similar situation exists in regard to e-rideables like e-scooters, where devices that exceed the legal limit of 25km/h and 25kg can be sold if used on private property,” Mr Burns said. “The problem in both cases is that these higher-powered devices are frequently being used in public spaces and are often being marketed with public use in mind, with disclaimers often obscured in fine print.”

WA to lead charge for a national ban on high-powered e-rideables but not until later this year

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