This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.
Transport & communications
As introduced, the bill would treat electrically power-assisted cycles, or EPACs, as road vehicles under federal law.
The explanatory memorandum says e-bike technology and variety have outgrown existing definitions and safety standards, creating concerns about unsafe or non-compliant imports. Nicolette Boele (Independent) said roughly 260,000 e-bikes were being imported into Australia each year. She also cited a Transport for NSW study reporting that 38 per cent of riders had tampered with their bikes, rising to 57 per cent among riders aged 18 to 29. The evidence pack does not include a government minister's rationale.
Australia’s road-vehicle framework, implemented in 2021, treated electrically power-assisted cycles as outside the federal road-vehicle rules while e-bike use and imports grew, and a January 2025 submission reported non-compliant, readily modified bikes that could exceed 25 km/h. After NSW and Victoria called for federal action amid e-bike deaths and fires in July 2025, Sophie Scamps MP introduced a private bill on 1 September to classify EPACs and powerful e-bikes and require national safety standards, but it was removed from the Notice Paper in March 2026 without becoming law.
The evidence pack contains no speech opposing or criticising the bill. Its two speech documents contain the same contribution from Nicolette Boele (Independent), who supported national import standards, basic safety features and protections against tampering.
Sophie Scamps MP introduced this bill. Speeches supporting it came from some crossbench members.
Did it become law?
No
The bill did not complete passage through Parliament.
Final passage
No final passage
The bill has not completed passage and is no longer proceeding.
Time before failure
211 days
From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding
Meaning
As introduced, the bill would treat electrically power-assisted cycles, or EPACs, as road vehicles under federal law. An EPACA low-powered electric pedal cycle. is a pedal cycle with a continuously rated motor of no more than 250 watts; motor assistance must reduce above 6 km/h and stop at 25 km/h, or stop when the rider is not pedalling and exceeds 6 km/h.
The minister would have six months to set a national safety standard for EPACs. It must cover working pedals, height-adjustable seats and protections that stop anyone other than the manufacturer from changing the maximum assisted speed, the maximum speed allowed by the bike's design, the maximum gear ratio for systems with middle motors, maximum motor power and the maximum speed at which the motor can begin assisting. It must also cover the remaining matters in European safety standard EN15194A European safety standard for electric pedal cycles..
EPACs would be free from the Act's rules for road vehicles and their components during that six-month standard-setting period. Afterward, those rules would still not apply to an EPACA low-powered electric pedal cycle. that meets the new national standard.
The relevant federal department's secretary could also exempt a particular EPACA low-powered electric pedal cycle. from those rules if satisfied that it was designed or modified for a rider with disability, or would not be ridden on a public road.
The bill would create a separate category for powerful e-bikes. This covers two- or three-wheeled electric vehicles that are neither EPACs nor specified types of mopeds, motorcycles or motor tricycles. They would be road vehicles unless a decision under existing powers says otherwise; for example, the secretary could decide that a powerful e-bikeA covered electric two- or three-wheeler that is not an EPAC or specified motorcycle-type vehicle. designed or modified for a rider with disability is not a road vehicle. The minister would have six months to set a national safety standard for powerful e-bikes.
The bill would repeal the existing definition of a “power-assisted pedal cycle” in the national vehicle-category standard.
10C EPACs are road vehicles (1) An electrically power‑assisted cycle is a road vehicle. (2) This section has effect despite any determination in force under subsection 6(5) or (6).Road Vehicle Standards Amendment (Safer E-Bikes) introduced text
10D Minister to determine national road vehicle standard for EPACs (1) Within 6 months after the commencement of this section, the Minister must determine a national road vehicle standard for electrically power‑assisted cycles. (2) The standard must deal with: (a) operational pedal cranks; and (b) height adjustable seats; and (c) anti‑tampering relevant parameters which prevent the modification of the following specific systems through electronic, mechanical or other means by those other than the manufacturer: (i) maximum speed with motor assistance (all systems); (ii) parameters affectRoad Vehicle Standards Amendment (Safer E-Bikes) introduced text
10E Part 2 does not apply in relation to certain EPACs (1) Part 2 (regulation of road vehicles and road vehicle components) does not apply in relation to an electrically power‑assisted cycle in the six month period beginning when this section commences. (2) After the end of the period mentioned in subsection (1), Part 2 does not apply in relation to an electrically power‑assisted cycle if: (a) it meets the requirements of the national road vehicle standard determined for the purposes of section 10D; or (b) it is covered by a determination in force under section 10F.Road Vehicle Standards Amendment (Safer E-Bikes) introduced text
10F Secretary may exempt certain EPACs (1) The Secretary may determine, in writing, that Part 2 of this Act (regulation of road vehicles and road vehicle components) does not apply in relation to a specfied power electrically power‑assisted cycle if the Secretary is satisfied that: (a) it has been designed, or has been modified, so that it can be ridden by a person with disability; or (b) it will not be ridden on a public road. (2) A determination under this section is not a legislative instrument.Road Vehicle Standards Amendment (Safer E-Bikes) introduced text
10A Powerful e‑bikes are road vehicles (1) A powerful e‑bike is a road vehicle. (2) A vehicle is a powerful e‑bike if: (a) the vehicle has 2 or 3 wheels; and (b) the vehicle is powered, wholly or partly, by an electric motor; and (c) the vehicle is not an electrically power‑assisted cycle (EPAC); and (d) the vehicle is not in any of the following vehicle categories (within the meaning of the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule — Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005): (i) moped (LA); (ii) moped (LB); (iii) motor cycle (LC); (iv) Motor cycle and side‑car (LD); (v) Motor tricyRoad Vehicle Standards Amendment (Safer E-Bikes) introduced text
Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule – Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005 4 Section 3 (definition of power-assisted pedal cycle) Repeal the definition.Road Vehicle Standards Amendment (Safer E-Bikes) introduced text
Context
Australia’s road-vehicle framework, implemented in 2021, treated electrically power-assisted cycles as outside the federal road-vehicle rules while e-bike use and imports grew, and a January 2025 submission reported non-compliant, readily modified bikes that could exceed 25 km/h. After NSW and Victoria called for federal action amid e-bike deaths and fires in July 2025, Sophie Scamps MP introduced a private bill on 1 September to classify EPACs and powerful e-bikes and require national safety standards, but it was removed from the Notice Paper in March 2026 without becoming law.
Federal vehicle standards take effect while EPACs remain outside them
The Road Vehicle Standards framework began operating on 1 July 2021, while the existing determination treated electrically power-assisted cycles as not being road vehicles for the Act.
Department of Infrastructure and explanatory memorandum ↗A review submission calls for clearer e-bike import rules
The submission said many e-bikes did not meet road-legal standards, could be modified into more powerful vehicles or exceed 25 km/h, and urged federal definitions and proof of compliance for imports.
Department of Infrastructure ↗NSW and Victoria demand action after e-bike deaths and fires
The states warned that weak national regulation was allowing dangerously fast and unroadworthy e-bikes and e-scooters onto roads, contributing to deaths and injuries.
Sydney Morning Herald ↗Sophie Scamps MP introduces the safer e-bikes bill
The private member’s bill responded by bringing EPACs and powerful e-bikes into a clearer federal classification system and requiring national safety standards, including anti-tampering protections.
Hansard ↗The bill is removed from the Notice Paper
The bill was removed under standing order 42, so the supplied record does not show its proposed national standards taking effect.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Key criticism
The evidence pack contains no speech opposing or criticising the bill. Its two speech documents contain the same contribution from Nicolette Boele (Independent), who supported national import standards, basic safety features and protections against tampering.
Boele stressed that the proposal was intended to improve safety and clarify the rules, not discourage people from using e-bikes.
Further sources
Votes
No recorded votes were found before this bill stopped proceeding.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Sophie Scamps supported and introduced the bill, arguing that federal import and safety rules had not kept pace with e-bike technology, leaving overpowered or modified e-bikes to create risks for riders, pedestrians and enforcement agencies.
Read in Hansard ↗Boele supports the bill because it would introduce national import standards and anti-tampering protections for e-bikes, helping prevent injuries and save lives without discouraging their use.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
2 speakers · 2 support
“The major regulatory failing at the federal level is that, when e-bikes are being imported into Australia, they do not have to meet any mandatory safety or quality standards because they are not considered road vehicles under the Road Vehicle Standards Act.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I want to reiterate that this bill is not about curbing the use of e-bikes. This bill simply brings e-bikes into line with safety expectations and clarifies ambiguity surrounding their usage. Implementing this will prevent countless injuries and, no doubt, save lives. I commend the member for Mackellar for bringing this legislation forward, and I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Removed from the Notice Paper in accordance with (SO 42)
Removed from the Notice Paper in accordance with (SO 42)
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
