Monday, 13 April 2026
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) today welcomed the Queensland Government's proposed reforms to address dangerous and illegal e-mobility devices, calling them a necessary response to a surge in serious injuries and deaths on Queensland roads and footpaths.
The Insurance Council supports the passage of the Bill through Parliament and has identified the following opportunities to strengthen its effectiveness:
- Closely monitor the impacts of the proposed 10km/h shared path speed limit on rider behaviour and injury patterns, given the risk that lower speed limits may push riders onto roads
- Ensure sufficient police resourcing, training and operational guidance to support consistent and effective application of the new enforcement powers
- Prioritise consistent enforcement outcomes across the State to maintain public confidence and maximise the safety impact of the reforms.
Under the Bill, devices capable of exceeding 25km/h would be reclassified as motorbikes after a six-month transition period and may require registration and Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance.
Non-compliant devices would be banned from roads and public spaces altogether, while compliant devices meeting prescribed safety standards and below the 25km/h limit would continue to be treated consistently with bicycles.
CTP insurance protects people injured in motor vehicle accidents. When an unregistered, uninsured device is involved in a serious incident that safety net does not exist, leaving injured riders, pedestrians and other road users without the protections available in other on-road collisions.
Beyond road safety, non-compliant e-mobility devices pose serious fire risks. Lithium-ion batteries in illegal or modified devices can ignite from overcharging, physical damage, heat exposure and manufacturing defects.
Devices that do not meet legal standards may impact coverage under home and contents insurance.
The ICA’s submission to the inquiry into Transport and Other Legislation (Managing E-mobility Use and Protecting Our Communities) Amendment Bill 2026 is available on its website.
Quotes attributable to ICA CEO Andrew Hall:
The injury toll from e-mobility devices in Queensland, and indeed across the country, is unacceptable.
The proposed laws send a clear message that illegal, unregistered, high-powered machines have no place on our roads and footpaths.
If a device can't be registered, it can't be insured, and that leaves everyone exposed. CTP insurance is there to protect people when things go wrong, and right now there are thousands of illegal devices on Queensland roads operating completely outside that safety net.
Insurers are ready to work with the Queensland Government to make sure these reforms deliver the safety outcomes Queenslanders expect and call on other jurisdictions to follow Queensland’s lead in this area.
