Brisbane Office Occupancy Rises After 50c Transport Fares

Brisbane’s CBD office attendance is on the rise, with workers returning in greater numbers following the introduction of 50-cent public transport fares. Recent data shows office occupancy in the city has jumped from 78% to 88% over the past year, marking the highest increase among Australian cities. While public transport use has surged on weekends, there’s also been a noticeable uptick in weekday peak-hour commuting, encouraging more office attendance.

CBRE’s latest Australian Return to Office Indicator reveals that nationwide CBD office attendance averaged 75% of pre-pandemic levels in late 2024, up from 72% in the previous quarter. Smaller capitals like Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide are performing best, with peak-day attendance near pre-COVID levels. Queensland’s decision to make the 50-cent fare permanent has played a key role in shifting habits back toward in-person work.

The initiative is expected to cost $1.5 billion over the next four years, but the results suggest it’s driving economic activity in the city. Brisbane’s improvement outpaces other major cities, with Sydney’s office attendance rising to 76% on average and Melbourne increasing from 57% to 61%. Interestingly, Sydney sees the biggest gap between average and peak-day attendance, hitting 87% on Tuesdays.

Looking ahead, hybrid work remains popular nationwide, but businesses are refocusing on the benefits of in-office collaboration. Internationally, the trend mirrors what’s happening in the U.S., where office attendance recently climbed to 54% following a government push for federal employees to return. While remote work is here to stay, policies like cheaper transport appear to be a strong incentive for getting workers back into city offices.

Source: The Australian, Translink, CBRE, LibGuides, AITPM, Properties and Pathways.