Thursday, 16 October 2025

 Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (17:17): (1351) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide an update on the status of the Department of Transport and Planning’s proposal for the safe regulation of e-bikes and a potential temporary ban on their use on trains due to the safety risks posed by large-capacity lithium ion batteries. E-bikes and e-scooters will remain an important transport mode as we work to build a more connected, accessible and sustainable state, especially in inner suburban areas like Pascoe Vale, Coburg, Brunswick West and of course Northcote. They play an increasingly important role by extending what might be a traditional car, bike or walking trip, flexibly connecting people to places of work, learning, shopping and services. They reduce traffic congestion, car parking pressures and carbon emissions; are a better link to train, tram and bus corridors; and help us continue to support active transport, health, mental health, wellbeing, recreational and cost-of-living outcomes for all. However, following the previous federal Liberal government’s decision in 2021 to revoke the importation permit system that forced importers to prove their e-bikes met world-leading European safety standards, that did not have a battery more powerful than 250 watts and did not exceed speeds of 25 kilometres an hour, we have concerningly seen safety undermined for many across our community. Following some recent incidents across Victoria, New South Wales and elsewhere that were associated with the risk of lithium ion battery fires on public transport, DTP is now reviewing community submissions on its proposed temporary ban.

In this respect, and further to previous engagement discussions and representations and correspondence I have shared with the minister’s office and the department, I strongly encourage DTP to give the appropriate weight and consideration to the strong feedback that I have continued to receive from many, many locals who have contacted me on this issue, including Merri-bek Bicycle User Group, Faith Hunter, Rob Dunn, Meg A’Hearn, Ken Wilson, Mary Casey, Jesse McNelis, Louise Dumas, Shanouk de Silva, Alison McCormack, Beau Atkinson and so many others. I particularly draw their attention to an email received from Prue Healy, which I believe best encapsulates how many locals feel:

I am solo parent who works full time but struggles to make ends meet. I rely on my ebike to help me make ends meet. I ride to and from work, dropping off my child to school each weekday and anywhere we need to go on weekends.

My family and many of my friends don’t live in Melbourne. In order to visit them, I ride with my son to Southern Cross station and board a train to where-ever our destination happens to be: Dandenong, Gippsland, Gisborne, Geelong. Then ride onwards from there … Without the option of taking my bike on the train, I simply cannot afford to visit these family and friends. I cannot afford the petrol nor the wear and tear to the car. Nor can our environment quite frankly, or my mental health.

Along with this extensive local feedback, I also draw the minister’s attention to the pragmatic feedback I have received from the Merri-bek Bicycle User Group, which includes:

Well over 5,000 people a day in Merri-bek use their bicycle to get around and increasingly many of these bicycles are electric.

We suggest that a ban without tackling the broader issues of Federal import regulation and Victoria’s ability to regulate e-bikes will not work.

They have put forward several recommendations, a couple of which I just want to draw to the minister’s attention, including that DTP engage in a full consultation process with the bike industry, fire services, public transport services, police organisations and users to develop a way to identify safe e-bicycles and measures for e-bikes on trains now and into the future and that then informs a future approach.