'Forget the inquiry': Mayor's plea for new e-bike laws after tragedies

After three youth deaths from e-bike accidents, Gold Coast's mayor has warned the Premier that waiting until March for new safety laws is ‘not good enough’.

Mayor Tom Tate has urged Premier David Crisafulli to urgently pass new laws cracking down on e-bike usage after a spate of deaths on the Gold Coast and across the state.

The state government has repeatedly insisted no changes will be made until the results of a parliamentary inquiry into the controversial electric vehicles are brought down in March.

But Mr Tate, in a column published in Saturday’s Bulletin, says the state cannot wait that long, warning community frustration had “reached fever point” and that waiting another four months was “not good enough”.

“Forget the parliamentary inquiry – the state government was elected to govern and has the power to immediately amend existing legislation,” he said.

Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“State transport and licensing laws exist today which set categories for vehicle types and categories for required licences.

“I urge Premier Crisafulli and his cabinet to immediately amend existing state laws to include e-bikes in the transport categories and further, to give police the powers to wipe out this scourge.”

Mr Tate said he also put on record his “asbolute support” for the region’s “hardworking police who are trying to manage this issue with inadequate supporting legislation”.

Pleas have grown in recent weeks for the government to enact urgent changes ahead of the Christmas school holidays.

Fudou Stovell, 15, from Worongary died after an e-bike crash in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. Picture: TikTok

It comes after the deaths of 15-year-old Worongary boy Fudou Stovell, eight year-old Sunshine Coast boy Zeke Hondow and 17-year-old Tallebudgera teenager Hudson Gagg, the latter of whom was a passenger on an e-bike which collided with an SUV.

Mr Crisafulli has previously said the government needed time craft laws.

“I think it’s appropriate that we allow the committee to do its job, and when they report back to the government, we will deal with a solution, and I think that shows respect to the committee process,” he said.

“I make a promise to every Queenslander: we are going to fix this, and we are going to do it properly. Change is coming.”

Hudson Gagg (right), 17, died after an e-bike on which he was a pillion passenger - ridden by his childhood friend Jydon Meyers (left) - was hit by a car at Tallebudgera in September - Photo Supplied

The Motor Trades Association of Queensland has also called for more urgent changes.

“Enough is enough. Queenslanders are dying because unsafe and unregulated vehicles are being sold and ridden with no oversight,” (MTA) chief executive Rod Camm said earlier this month.

“Every day these high-powered machines find their way on to our roads, bikeways and parks is another day lives are on the line.

“The laws exist – the government just isn’t enforcing them. It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, and it’s killing people.”

Mr Tate also took aim at parents who bought their children high-powered e-bikes.

“E-bikes are not a passing fad and I support all forms of public travel when the mode of transport is used responsibly,” he said.

“The clear issue here is a growing public safety crisis (and) parents need to take a hard look at what’s really at stake.

“These machines aren’t toys, they are high-powered, illegal and in the wrong hands, they can be deadly.

“The responsibility of parents needs to be called in.

“It’s time to seriously reconsider the risks, not only to your own children but to everyone they share the roads with.”