With the e-bike market booming in Australia, a record number of these vehicles are expected to be found under Christmas trees this year. However, questions about their safety are mounting. The surge in e-bike accidents has led many to point fingers, and some critics have identified Barnaby Joyce as a key figure in this unfolding crisis. As Transport Minister in 2021, Joyce, along with his junior minister Kevin Hogan, quietly dismantled existing e-bike safety protocols.
These safety regulations, adapted from Europe in 2011, were intended to regulate the import of e-bikes. However, under Joyce’s tenure, they were removed from the Road Vehicle Standards Act without much public discussion. The stated reason was to “simplify the definition of e-bikes,” classifying them as “not road vehicles” under the Act. This decision starkly contrasts with the reality seen in coastal suburbs from Cronulla to Coolangatta, where e-bikes are a common sight.
The Surge in E-Bike Accidents
The aftermath of this policy change has been significant. With importers no longer bound by stringent safety standards, cheaper and potentially unsafe e-bikes flooded the market. The result has been a dramatic increase in both sales and accidents. In 2017, Australia imported just 9,000 e-bikes, but by last year, that number had skyrocketed to 261,000. Many of these bikes are equipped with sub-standard lithium-ion batteries and easily hackable speed limit software.
Over the past five years, 40 e-bike riders have died nationally. In New South Wales alone, more than 500 e-bike riders presented to emergency departments over the past two years, while Victoria saw a 627% increase in hospitalizations from e-bike injuries since 2019.
A 2025 study highlighted that e-bike riders are twice as likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries compared to those on regular bicycles. In NSW, there were 323 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes last year, nearly double the number from 2022.
Government Response and Ongoing Challenges
Amidst growing media scrutiny, state parliaments and authorities have launched inquiries into e-bikes and other rideables. Federal Transport Minister Catherine King has announced plans to restore European e-bike standards, known as EN-15194, by the end of the year. However, this move comes too late to address the thousands of sub-standard e-bikes already in circulation.
The task of removing these dangerous e-bikes from the streets now falls to state police and officials. They face the challenge of navigating complex road rules and specifications to ensure compliance with the restored standards.
Safety concerns are exacerbated by overpowered bikes, a lack of rider training, and a prevalence of unregistered and illegal e-bikes with backyard modifications. The situation is even more dire for e-scooters, which face even fewer regulations.
“There are even fewer regulations for e-scooters than there are for e-bikes, and they’re accident-prone too,” said Andrew Demack of Bicycle Queensland.
The Debate Over Regulation
Under the scrapped European standards, imported e-bikes were required to have motors with a 250-watt power limit, which would cut off at 25km/h and only contribute when riders were pedaling. However, once these rules were removed, the NSW government increased the maximum allowable continuous power rating for e-bikes to 500 watts in 2023, against expert advice.
While other states maintained a 250-watt limit, the inconsistency in laws has created confusion. Peter Burke, Executive Officer of Bicycle Industries Australia, emphasized the need for uniform regulations across the country.
“We need harmony of regulations across the country,” Burke stated, though achieving this may prove challenging.
Efforts to Address the Crisis
Efforts to address the crisis include attempts to curb the modification of e-bikes to exceed speed limits. Many riders modify their e-bikes to bypass the 25 km/h speed limit, using methods such as adjusting display settings or using tuning devices.
In response, ‘Teal’ independent Sophie Scamps has proposed a private member’s bill to encode e-bike regulations into legislation and tackle tampering with speed limits.
“E-bikes are an important part of the shift to cleaner, more active transport, but the technology has raced ahead of safety legislation,” Scamps said. “I am very worried we are going to see more tragedies unless we act urgently to introduce clear national safety standards.”
Despite these efforts, political consensus remains elusive. Labor frontbencher Anika Wells dismissed the issue as a state matter, while Liberal Senator Jane Hume echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that federal focus should be elsewhere.
The challenge of regulating e-bikes is complex, as it involves balancing safety with the growing popularity of these vehicles. As for Barnaby Joyce, his political future remains uncertain, but his impact on e-bike regulations continues to be felt across Australia.
