What's changed

Page edits and legislation re-checks, newest first.

15 Oct 2026: Are e-bikes legal in NSW? — First published.
15 Oct 2026: Are e-bikes legal in the ACT? — First published.
15 Oct 2026: Are e-bikes legal in the Northern Territory? — First published.
15 Oct 2026: Are e-bikes legal in South Australia? — First published. Current to the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous) Regulations 2014 (SA) version 25.9.2026 (reg 3(1) power-assisted pedal cycle definition inserted 13.7.2025; reg 3(2a) bicycle prescribed, inserted 13.7.2025; Sch 4 expiation fees substituted by 26/2026 r 3, operative 1.7.2026); the Australian Road Rules (SA) version 30.3.2024; the Road Traffic (Road Rules—Ancillary and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2014 (SA) version 12.2.2026; the Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA) version 24.11.2025; and the Motor Vehicles Regulations 2025 (SA) version 1.8.2026.
15 Oct 2026: Are e-bikes legal in Tasmania? — First published.
15 Oct 2026: Are e-bikes legal in Queensland? — First published.
15 Oct 2026: Are e-bikes legal in Victoria? — First published.
15 Oct 2026: Are e-bikes legal in Western Australia? — First published.
15 Oct 2026: Are e-scooters legal in Queensland? — Corrected the source of the 28 February 2027 older-device deadline. A register-direct read confirmed the regulation that section 245(3) points to has been made: section 177 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Accreditation and Other Provisions) Regulation 2015, inserted by the 2026 e-mobility amendment Act (Act No. 13) and in force from 1 July 2026, prescribes 28 February 2027 as the end of the transitional period, and section 245(1) applies that transition to personal mobility devices. The date is now cited to that regulation as a matter of law, with StreetSmarts kept as supporting context. The 9 October entry's statement that no such regulation had been made is superseded.
13 Oct 2026: Are e-scooters legal in Queensland? — Added the exemptions to the 16-and-licence rule that took effect on 31 August 2026: riders 12 and over with a parent, grandparent or guardian supervising, people 16 and over with a medical exemption certificate, and riding on signposted public mountain-bike trails and rail trails or private cycling facilities. The page had said these were still to come. Also corrected the licence wording: the Act accepts interstate and foreign licences.

Show 53 older changes

10 Oct 2026: Are e-scooters legal in NSW? — Register re-check, read direct from the NSW legislation registers. The Road Rules 2014 (current version 27 March 2026) and the Road Transport (General) Regulation 2021 (current version 9 October 2026) were reconfirmed. The $144 and $434 fines under cl 134, and the repeal of the electric-scooter trial provisions on 22 January 2027 under rule 262-15, are all unchanged.
10 Oct 2026: Are e-scooters legal in the Northern Territory? — Updated to the current Beam hire-scheme exemption, read at the Northern Territory gazette: Gazette G15, 30 July 2026, in effect for two years from 1 August 2026. The rider conditions now follow that exemption, including the bans on Bagot Road, Trower Road and the Stuart Highway, and the 8pm to 6am curfew on Mitchell Street between Peel and Knuckey Streets. We removed an end date for the City of Darwin's Beam partnership that we could not confirm from an official source. Verdict unchanged.
10 Oct 2026: Are e-scooters legal in South Australia? — Fines re-read from the South Australian registers. The speeding, prohibited-road, passenger, towing and helmet fines are unchanged, and each is now cited to Schedule 4 of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous) Regulations 2014, where it is set. The $133 no-helmet fine now points to the bicycle helmet rule in the Australian Road Rules, which applies to e-scooter riders. We removed a $72 figure for phone use, because the regulations do not print a separate phone fine for e-scooter riders. The victims-of-crime levy is now cited to the Victims of Crime (Fund and Levy) Regulations 2018: $108 for an adult, and $20 for a rider under 18, which we have added. Verdict unchanged.
10 Oct 2026: Are e-scooters legal in Tasmania? — Re-checked the 2026–27 penalty-unit value of $213 against the notice that sets it, in Tasmanian Government Gazette No. 22575 (27 May 2026). The notice is now cited alongside the Department of Justice page. The fines ($4,260, $1,065 and $426) are unchanged.
9 Oct 2026: Are e-scooters legal in the ACT? — Cluster re-check against the ACT register. Every extract, the $160 penalty unit and all fines confirmed current; no substantive change. The Offences Regulation and Legislation Act republications moved on only (Rep 105 from 1 August 2026 and Rep 126 from 23 February 2026), with no change to the quoted provisions or amounts.
9 Oct 2026: Are e-scooters legal in the Northern Territory? — Re-checked against the Northern Territory register. The verdict, the offences and the $194 penalty unit (2026–27) are confirmed current. The toy-scooter exception now uses the regulation's exact wording. The Beam exemption we had verified ended on 30 June 2026, so the Beam wording was updated while we confirmed its replacement.
9 Oct 2026: Are e-scooters legal in Queensland? — Cluster re-check against the Queensland register. The 31 August 2026 reforms are confirmed commenced and in force, and the penalty unit ($172.70 for 2026–27) and every fine are confirmed current. Corrected the 28 February 2027 device deadline: it is StreetSmarts's compliance date for limiting older devices to 25 km/h, not a cut-off in the Act — s 245 leaves that to a regulation not yet made — so it is now attributed to the regulator rather than cited to the legislation.
9 Oct 2026: Are e-scooters legal in Victoria? — Cluster re-check against the Victorian register. All extracts, the $209.10 penalty unit (2026–27) and every fine confirmed current; the Road Rules version (026) has not moved. Repointed the Road Safety Act 1986 source to its current in-force version (237, as at 30 September 2026); the earlier version (236) was superseded on 15 April 2026. The quoted sections 3, 49 and 68A are identical in both versions, so no quoted text changed.
9 Oct 2026: Are e-scooters legal in Western Australia? — Cluster re-check against the WA register. Every extract, the $50 penalty unit and all fines confirmed current at the register; no substantive change. The Road Traffic Code and Vehicles Regulations compilations moved to May and July 2026 amendments that do not touch the e-rideable provisions quoted here.
23 Sept 2026: Is it legal to record a conversation in the Australian Capital Territory? — First published. Current to the Listening Devices Act 1992 (ACT), republication 10 (effective 11 February 2022), and to the ACT penalty unit value of $160 for an individual.
23 Sept 2026: Is it legal to record a conversation in New South Wales? — First published. Current to the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW) No 64, version in force 14 August 2026, and to the NSW penalty unit value of $110 (Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) s 17).
23 Sept 2026: Is it legal to record a conversation in the Northern Territory? — First published. Current to the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NT) as in force 1 June 2026, and to the NT penalty unit value of $194 from 1 July 2026.
23 Sept 2026: Is it legal to record a conversation in Queensland? — First published. Current to the Invasion of Privacy Act 1971 (Qld) as in force 1 July 2024, and to the Queensland penalty unit value of $172.70 from 1 July 2026.
23 Sept 2026: Is it legal to record a conversation in Tasmania? — First published. Current to the Listening Devices Act 1991 (Tas), version current from 5 October 2018 to date.
23 Sept 2026: Is it legal to record a conversation in South Australia? — First published. Current to the Surveillance Devices Act 2016 (SA), version 21.9.2023, with dollar penalties stated directly in the Act.
23 Sept 2026: Is it legal to record a conversation in Victoria? — First published. Current to the Surveillance Devices Act 1999 (Vic) Version 048 (as at 10 December 2025), and to the Victorian penalty unit value of $209.10 for 2026–27.
23 Sept 2026: Is it legal to record a conversation in Western Australia? — First published. Current to the Surveillance Devices Act 1998 (WA), consolidated version current from 5 April 2023.
3 Sept 2026: Are e-scooters legal in Queensland? — The 31 August 2026 licence and minimum-age rules have commenced — the Road Rules reprint current from 31 August 2026 states every provision has commenced. The page was still written as though they were coming. Facts unchanged, tense corrected.
3 Sept 2026: What are the pool fence rules in Victoria? — Re-checked against Victoria's 1 September 2026 consolidations: Building Regulations 2018 version 031 and Building Act 1993 version 150, replacing versions 030 and 149. Every provision quoted on this page is present in the new version unchanged, so no wording here changed — only the version the page points at.
3 Sept 2026: How high can a fence be in Queensland? — Re-checked the Queensland Housing Code. It is no longer pending: the Building Regulation 2021 reprint current from 14 August 2026 carries it and the register states every provision has commenced. The page had said it was proposed to start on 1 September 2026 subject to approval. The 2 m limit is unchanged, and each council keeps the old settings until its scheme is amended or 1 September 2029.
3 Sept 2026: How high can a fence be in Victoria? — Re-checked against Victoria's 1 September 2026 consolidations: Building Regulations 2018 version 031 and Building Act 1993 version 150, replacing versions 030 and 149. Every provision quoted on this page is present in the new version unchanged, so no wording here changed — only the version the page points at.
30 Aug 2026: How high can a fence be in Brisbane? — First published. Current to Brisbane's Health, Safety and Amenity Local Law 2021 and Council's fencing guidance. Two City Plan rules are shown at their most recent readable versions, dated on the page, because Council publishes the current text only through its address map.
29 Aug 2026: Are e-scooters legal in Tasmania? — Fines rechecked against Tasmania's official penalty-unit value, which rose to $213 on 1 July 2026. The figures shown were already correct. Transport Tasmania's guidance was rechecked too.
29 Aug 2026: What are the pool fence rules in NSW? — Added what you have to attach to a contract when selling a house with a pool, and what happens if you leave it out. The buyer can pull out within 14 days.
29 Aug 2026: What are the pool fence rules in SA? — Rechecked the SA pool safety regulations. The March 2021 version is still the current one, so nothing on this page was out of date. Added the rule that safety features must be finished by whichever comes first: two months after construction, or the day the pool is filled.
29 Aug 2026: What are the pool fence rules in Tasmania? — Updated the fines to Tasmania's penalty-unit value of $213, which applied from 1 July 2026, replacing $205. Maximum fines are now shown in dollars.
29 Aug 2026: How high can a fence be in Queensland? — Corrected the start date for the new Queensland Housing Code. It is proposed to start on 1 September 2026 but still needs approval, so this page no longer treats the date as settled. The 2 m limit does not change under it.
29 Aug 2026: How high can a fence be in SA? — Corrected the list of fences that still need approval. South Australia added two exceptions on 1 July 2026: heritage-area fences in front of the house, and fences on co-located housing land. Also restored a missing condition on the brush-fence rule: the 3 m clearance does not apply if the wall facing it is fire resistant.
28 Aug 2026: Are e-scooters legal in NSW? — Fines updated for the 1 July 2026 indexation: the general offence rose from $140 to $144, and riding without a helmet from $423 to $434.
28 Aug 2026: What are the pool fence rules in the ACT? — First published. Current to the ACT pool-safety rules in the Building Act as at 10 July 2026.
28 Aug 2026: What are the pool fence rules in NSW? — First published. Current to the NSW Swimming Pools Act as at 14 August 2026, with its Regulation and the planning rules for pool fences.
28 Aug 2026: What are the pool fence rules in the NT? — First published. Current to the NT Swimming Pool Safety Act and Regulations as at 13 September 2025.
28 Aug 2026: What are the pool fence rules in Queensland? — First published. Current to the Queensland Building Act as at 1 February 2026 and the pool safety standard MP 3.4.
28 Aug 2026: What are the pool fence rules in SA? — First published. Current to the SA planning legislation as at 15 January 2026, the Ministerial building standard for older pools, and the council inspection direction in force from 1 July 2025.
28 Aug 2026: What are the pool fence rules in Tasmania? — First published. Current to Tasmania's Director of Building Control determination and the Building Act.
28 Aug 2026: What are the pool fence rules in Victoria? — First published. Current to the Victorian Building Regulations as at 1 July 2026.
28 Aug 2026: What are the pool fence rules in WA? — First published. Current to the WA Building Regulations as at 23 July 2026.
28 Aug 2026: How high can a fence be in the ACT? — First published. Current to the ACT planning and building laws and the Territory Plan as at August 2026.
28 Aug 2026: How high can a fence be in NSW? — First published. Current to the NSW planning rules for fences, the Dividing Fences Act and the Swimming Pools Act as at August 2026.
28 Aug 2026: How high can a fence be in the NT? — First published. Current to the NT Building Act and Regulations, the Fences Act, the Planning Scheme and the City of Darwin By-laws as at August 2026.
28 Aug 2026: How high can a fence be in Queensland? — First published, during the changeover to the new Queensland Housing Code. The rules shown are the 2010 standards, which still apply.
28 Aug 2026: How high can a fence be in SA? — First published. Current to the SA Fences Act and the Planning and Design Code as at August 2026.
28 Aug 2026: How high can a fence be in Tasmania? — First published. Current to the Tasmanian Building Act, the Boundary Fences Act and version 16.1 of the State Planning Provisions.
28 Aug 2026: How high can a fence be in Victoria? — First published. Current to the Victorian Building Regulations as at 1 July 2026, the Building Act and the Fences Act.
28 Aug 2026: How high can a fence be in WA? — First published. Current to the WA Building Act and Regulations, the Dividing Fences Act and the residential design codes as at August 2026.
27 Aug 2026: Are e-scooters legal in the ACT? — First published. Current to the ACT Road Rules as at 3 November 2025 and the Offences Regulation as at 1 August 2026.
27 Aug 2026: Are e-scooters legal in NSW? — First published. Current to the NSW Road Rules, with the trial framework set to end on 22 January 2027.
27 Aug 2026: Are e-scooters legal in the Northern Territory? — First published. The Darwin hire-scheme exemption is shown as last extended to 30 June 2026, with its current status still being confirmed.
27 Aug 2026: Are e-scooters legal in Queensland? — First published, days before the 31 August 2026 licence rule starts. Current to the 1 July 2026 Queensland reforms.
27 Aug 2026: Are e-scooters legal in South Australia? — First published. Current to South Australia's personal mobility device rules, which started on 13 July 2025.
27 Aug 2026: Are e-scooters legal in Tasmania? — First published. Current to the Tasmanian Road Rules as at 11 December 2025.
27 Aug 2026: Are e-scooters legal in Victoria? — First published. Current to the Victorian Road Rules as at 18 February 2026, including the new class A, B and C scooter system.
27 Aug 2026: Are e-scooters legal in Western Australia? — First published. Current to the WA Road Traffic Code as at 14 May 2026, including the May 2026 relaxation of the road rules.