CityCat passengers could soon order beer and wine as council weighs licensed bar trial

Why This Matters

• The trial would change the experience of a commuter service that carries passengers along the Brisbane River, raising questions about how alcohol service would work on public transport.
• A council-run licensed ferry would be a first for Brisbane and could set a precedent for other Australian cities watching the outcome.
• The proposal lands at a sensitive moment, with ferry workers in dispute with operator RiverCity Ferries.

Background

CityCats are Brisbane's public river ferry service and a central part of the city's transport network. The new generation double-decker vessels have been progressively added to the fleet. Licensed bars on commuter ferries are not new elsewhere: Sydney's Manly Fast Ferry already sells drinks to passengers on its shorter run across Sydney Harbour.

Key Perspectives

Brisbane City Council: Backs the idea as a way to bring a licensed bar experience to the river, pointing to the Manly Fast Ferry as a working model in another Australian city. Ferry workers: Already in dispute with RiverCity Ferries over conditions, with strikes and work bans running since late July. The council has not said how the licensed vessels would be staffed. Critics/Skeptics: Questions are likely to centre on how alcohol service would be managed and supervised on the water, particularly given staffing details have not been released and the workforce is currently in dispute.

What to Watch

• Whether the council formally approves the trial and on what timeline.
• Staffing arrangements for the licensed vessels, which the council has not yet revealed.
• The status of the industrial dispute between ferry workers and RiverCity Ferries, which could affect how the trial is received.