Queensland has started destroying the illegal e-bikes and e-scooters its police have seized under the state's new e-mobility laws. Announcing the first crush on Monday 14 September, the state government said Queensland Police had seized 466 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters and issued 2,142 traffic infringement notices since the first stage of the reforms began on 1 July. Batteries and metal from the destroyed devices are being recycled wherever possible.
Television footage of the first crush in Brisbane showed 59 devices, around 5.5 tonnes, being destroyed, a small share of the statewide total. Devices have also been seized in south east Queensland, Townsville and Cairns.
What the ministers said
Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg said the bikes being crushed should never have been on Queensland streets, and that anyone riding an illegal high powered device could now expect police to seize and destroy it. Police Minister Dan Purdie said the early figures showed the reforms were working.
Where this sits
- Queensland's seize and destroy powers arrived with the first stage of the e-mobility reforms on 1 July 2026
- The second stage, from 31 August, requires solo riders of e-bikes and e-scooters to be at least 16 and hold at least a learner licence, with supervised riding for 12 to 17 year olds
- The legal e-bike is unchanged: 250 watts, with motor assistance cutting out at 25 km/h
- NSW began its own seize and crush operations under separate laws enforceable from 21 August
Sources
- Queensland Government Ministerial Media Statements, dangerous illegal e-bikes destroyed under tough new laws (14 September 2026)
- Coolum Advertiser, illegal e-bikes crushed as new laws continue to take effect (18 September 2026)
- The Cool Down, Queensland confiscates and crushes e-bikes and e-scooters (19 September 2026)
- ABC News, Queensland age and licence rules from 31 August
Seizure and infringement figures, the recycling commitment and ministerial comments are from the Queensland Government media statement of 14 September 2026. The Brisbane figure of 59 devices and about 5.5 tonnes is from 9News Queensland footage as reported on 19 September 2026. The hero is a file photo of seized e-bikes being crushed, supplied by WA Police to ABC News in January 2026, not an image of the Queensland crush.