I support the Road Transport Amendment (Non-registrable Motor Vehicles) Bill 2026 and the measures it contains to strengthen safety and enforcement around illegal e-bikes and other non-registrable motor vehicles. I particularly support the stronger seizure powers for police, the reduction in the allowable motor power from 500 watts to 250 watts to align with other States and tougher penalties for manufacturers and suppliers who breach safety standards. Those are sensible reforms that the community has been calling for.

This issue is front of mind for many people across my electorate of Wakehurst and across the northern beaches. Every day, people see the benefits of e-bikes. Young people are using them to get to school, sport and work. Families are using them to reduce reliance on cars. Commuters are using them as an affordable and convenient transport option. In areas like the northern beaches, where we do not have access to rail or metro services and rely heavily at the moment on cars and unreliable buses, e-bikes have enormous potential as part of the transport mix. Alongside those benefits, there is also growing concern in the community that the rules have not kept up with the rapid growth in e-bike use.

Too many people feel unsafe on footpaths and shared paths. Too many parents are worried about the speeds some riders are travelling at. Too many residents feel there is little accountability when the wrong thing occurs. Police have said the current framework makes enforcement difficult. Recently I conducted a community survey on e-bikes through my office, and the results were very clear. Around 88 per cent of respondents supported mandatory registration for e-bikes, 78 per cent supported licensing requirements, 87 per cent supported introducing a minimum age for riders and 81 per cent supported a 10 kilometres per hour speed limit on footpaths and shared paths. Those results do not reflect a community that is anti e-bike—they simply want clearer rules, stronger safeguards and greater accountability. The bill is a positive start, but I believe the Government needs to go further.

Firstly, we need to seriously examine a registration and licensing framework for higher powered e-bikes. If someone is operating what is effectively a motorbike in shared public spaces, there should be some mechanism for identification, training and accountability. At the moment, there are simply too many grey areas. When incidents occur, it can be incredibly difficult for police or members of the public to identify riders or pursue consequences. We have seen a number of instances of that very recently on the northern beaches. Secondly, we need clearer statewide rules around speed limits on footpaths and shared paths. A pedestrian, a young child, an elderly resident or someone pushing a pram should not feel unsafe using community spaces because of excessive e-bike speeds. Shared paths only work when all users feel safe.

Thirdly, we need to continue examining minimum age requirements. These devices are powerful machines, and they require judgement and maturity. At the same time, I acknowledge that e-bikes provide enormous benefits for young people, particularly in suburban communities. That is why further consultation with young people is critical as part of this process. Fourthly, we need greater investment in infrastructure. Regulation alone will not solve this issue. We need safer, separated bike lanes, improved shared path design and better active transport planning. If governments genuinely want people to shift away from cars, then they must provide infrastructure that safely accommodates that transition.

I acknowledge the leadership being shown locally. Schools such as Forest High School and St Luke's Grammar School have implemented their own e-bike registration systems. Northern Beaches Council has also undertaken local trials and community safety initiatives. Those local efforts demonstrate that communities are ready for stronger regulation and practical solutions. I acknowledge the work undertaken by the member for Pittwater, who has introduced legislation proposing a broader registration and licensing framework for e-bikes. While there are many differing views on the exact model, I believe that contribution has helped move this debate forward in a constructive way.

When the member for Pittwater and I visited St Luke's, we found that the students were happy with the registration system. They said, "It gives us accountability. We know we can't be silly or do the wrong thing, and we can be identified quite easily. In fact, we don't even take the plates off on weekends now. We don't care about it because we're not doing anything wrong." They had the knowledge and ability to say that it gives them and their friends accountability that they may not otherwise have exercised. If they are happy with the system, I am not sure why we need to push so hard against it. I think there is a compromise somewhere, and we should look to work together. It can and should be part of the solution, as we try to keep up with the e-bike phenomenon.

Ultimately, this debate should not be about being for or against e-bikes. If we get the settings right, e-bikes can be a major success story for New South Wales. They can and do reduce congestion. They support active transport, improve accessibility and provide greater transport choice, particularly in communities underserved by heavy public transport infrastructure. But if governments fail to respond to legitimate community concerns around safety, accountability and enforcement, they risk losing public confidence altogether. The bill is a critical step forward, and I support it. But I also encourage the Government to continue working with communities, councils, schools, police and industry on the next stage of reform so that we can build a framework that supports both innovation and public safety. I commend the bill to the House.

27 May 2026, 19:07.