World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Brisbane council considers licensed bars on 10 CityCat ferries
Brisbane City Council is considering licensed bars on 10 CityCats, the ferries that carry passengers along the Brisbane River.
The council says the proposed pilot would offer food and drinks, including alcohol, on selected double-decker ferries.
The idea is still in its early stages, and the council has not set a timetable or decided opening hours, products or staffing arrangements.
The proposal is inspired by ferry services in Sydney, while the operator already runs a licensed cafe on its North Stradbroke Island ferry.
Council says licensing rules and responsible alcohol service would apply, but some residents have raised concerns about intoxication and passenger safety.
The plan has drawn criticism during an ongoing ferry workers’ pay dispute, with an opposition councillor questioning whether staff should take on bar duties.
The council is still working through the details, including how the bars would be staffed.
Brisbane City Council is considering a trial of licensed bars on 10 double-decker CityCat ferries.
The council says passengers could buy drinks and food on selected ferries, but the proposal is still in its early stages.
The council has not set a timeline, and details such as opening hours, products and staffing remain unresolved.
The proposal has drawn criticism from residents and the council opposition, including amid an ongoing pay dispute involving ferry workers.
- Who
- Brisbane City Council is considering the trial. The proposal concerns CityCat passengers and ferry operator RiverCity Ferries.
- What
- A trial would add licensed bars to 10 double-decker CityCats.
- When
- The proposal was reported on October 15, 2026. The council has not set a timeline for the trial.
- Where
- On selected CityCat ferries serving the Brisbane River.
- Why
- The council says it wants to offer passengers the option to buy food and drinks and make living in Brisbane more enjoyable.
Brisbane City Council
Critics of the proposal
Proposal
Brisbane City Council
The council is exploring licensed bars on a small number of ferries, with licensing and responsible service requirements in mind.
Critics of the proposal
Critics say the proposal is a poor priority and raises concerns about intoxication, safety and ferry workers’ duties.
Pay negotiations between the Maritime Workers Union and RiverCity Ferries had been ongoing since this month.
CityCat workers began intermittent industrial action, according to ABC Australia.
Ferry staff refused to work on Riverfire night, ABC Australia reported.
Reports said Brisbane City Council was considering a trial of licensed bars on 10 CityCats.
- Vessels proposed
- 10 double-decker CityCats
- Fleet share
- About half of the current fleet, according to SMH
- Route
- Northshore Hamilton to the University of Queensland
- Full route duration
- About 80 minutes
- Trial timeline
- No exact timeline stated by the council
2 sources
What people are saying
We're having a look at an idea where, on a small number of ferries … to see whether we can have a food and beverage offering on our ferries to allow people the option to be able to buy a drink if they wish on the ferry on the way home,
You've got families using those things, kids there. People are going to get intoxicated.
Brisbane's LNP Lord Mayor thinks it's fine for CityCat staff to be overworked and underpaid, and now he wants them to become bartenders and clean up intoxicated people's vomit,
Brisbane’s LNP lord mayor is only focused on the nice-to-haves instead of getting the basics right.