NSW May Ban E-Bikes for Children Under 12; Airport Near-Miss Called ‘Unacceptable’

The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, is considering introducing a ban on e-bikes for children under the age of 12, amid mounting concern over the safety of young riders using motorised bicycles on public roads and paths.

E-bikes, which are equipped with electric motors that assist pedalling and can significantly increase speed, have become increasingly popular among younger riders in recent years. Authorities and safety advocates have raised concerns that some children are riding them without adequate skill, protective gear or supervision.

Separately, Australia's air safety chief has described a near-miss incident on the tarmac at Sydney Airport as "unacceptable," underscoring serious concerns about safety protocols at one of the country's busiest aviation hubs.

A near-miss refers to an incident in which aircraft or ground vehicles come into dangerously close proximity without an actual collision occurring. Such incidents are treated with particular gravity in aviation, given the potentially catastrophic consequences of any error on an active runway or taxiway.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the independent statutory agency responsible for investigating civil transport accidents and safety occurrences in Australia, is currently gathering information about the circumstances surrounding the incident. No further operational details have yet been released publicly.

In a separate development reported the same day, New South Wales police confirmed that remains discovered inside a suitcase near the regional town of Goulburn were not human. Superintendent Linda Bradbury, speaking on behalf of NSW police, described the finding as "good news," noting that it ruled out a suspicious human death.

The suitcase discovery had initially prompted concern among investigators, who treated the case with caution until forensic examination could determine the nature of the remains. The confirmation that they were not human has allowed police to close that particular line of inquiry.

Taken together, these developments form part of a broader day of news coverage in Australia, spanning transport policy, aviation safety oversight and policing matters within New South Wales. The e-bike proposal and the airport incident both highlight ongoing debates about how authorities balance convenience, innovation and public safety across different modes of transport.