Australia Tasks Watchdog to Set National E-Micromobility Standards

The Australian federal government has tasked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission with drafting new national standards for the sale of e-micromobility devices. Announced on August 6, 2026, the initiative targets electric bikes, scooters, and skateboards to close regulatory loopholes that currently allow retailers to sell high-risk, high-speed devices.

This national framework follows a significant increase in accidents. In the first seven months of 2025, New South Wales reported 233 e-bike injuries and four deaths, while Queensland recorded over 6,000 emergency department visits related to e-mobility devices between 2022 and 2025. The proposal emerged from a July meeting of federal, state, and territory consumer affairs ministers in Darwin.

The new standards will complement existing state-level actions, including Queensland's Operation Yankee Surety and the policy in New South Wales to seize and pulverize illegal e-bikes. Assistant Competition Minister Andrew Leigh stated the goal is to provide clearer expectations for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. Harold Scruby, Chief Executive of the Pedestrian Council of Australia, welcomed the move but argued that the changes are overdue, noting that technology often outpaces the law.