Wednesday, 29 October 2025

 Tim READ (Brunswick) (15:01): (1355) My constituency question is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport. One of my constituents is concerned that Victoria’s threatened ban of e-bikes on trains could hinder their ability to get to their club softball games in Melbourne’s outer suburbs. They calculate that under the government’s proposed ban their current commute – an easy combination of a safe, reputable Liv e-bike and train – would turn into either a cumbersome three-hour return trip of trains, trams and buses or a car-share rental costing up to $150 a week and adding a car to the road that was not there before. Given the government’s own evidence shows any fire risk stems almost entirely from noncompliant import e-bikes and home conversion kits, does the government plan to take a balanced approach to this problem, as the New South Wales government has done? Otherwise my constituent may have to quit her softball club.