July 1 is the opening day of a new financial year, but it also marks the point when a series of new laws starts across Australia.
Among the changes are a major Medicare update affecting women, one of the “most significant changes” to superannuation, and new rules aimed at supermarket price gouging.
In Queensland, the date also triggers tougher laws for e-bikes and personal mobility devices, or PMDs.
The measures have drawn controversy since being announced earlier this year, and people across the state have been urged to learn the new rules or face heavy penalties.
The government has described the reforms as “nation-leading” and said they are designed to “stop behaviour that puts lives at risk” after “widespread community concerns” about e-bikes and PMDs.
Under the new regime, police will be able to seize and destroy illegal e-bikes and PMDs.
People riding e-bikes, bicycles, e-scooters and other PMDs will also be subject to random breath testing. The same 0.05 blood-alcohol limit that applies to motorists will now apply to them as well.
Speed rules are also being tightened. E-scooters and other PMDs must be limited so they cannot go beyond 25km/h. For e-bikes, motor assistance is allowed only up to 25km/h, with anything faster requiring pedal power alone.
A 12km/h limit will apply on footpaths and when riders pass pedestrians on shared paths.
E-scooters, e-skateboards and e-unicycles will be allowed on roads with speed limits of up to 60km/h, including in on-road bike lanes, but the riders themselves must not exceed 25km/h.
Penalties are rising for a range of offences, including speeding, not wearing a helmet, careless riding, unlawfully carrying passengers and riding on banned roads.
From August 31, riders must be at least 16 and hold a licence. Some exemptions will apply for people with medical conditions or disabilities, and children aged 12 to 17 will still be allowed to ride if supervised by a parent.
From July 1, parents of children under 16 who are caught riding illegally can also be fined.
The changes also bring in mandatory compliance labels for e-bikes, which must be in place by February 28, 2027.
Fines have increased as well. Not wearing a helmet carries a $518 penalty. The same $518 fine applies for doubling, riding on a prohibited road and careless riding. Speeding fines range from $345 to $1,986 depending on speed, drink riding penalties run from $518 to a maximum court-imposed $6,908, and unsafe parking draws a $172 fine. Parents can also be fined $518 if children under 16 are riding illegally, including on an illegal device or if they are underage or unlicensed.
