Brisbane ferry strike threatens Riverfire festival crowds

A ferry strike in Brisbane is set to disrupt transport for attendees of the Brisbane Festival and the popular Riverfire event. The Maritime Union of Australia is engaged in a dispute with RiverCity Ferries, the city council’s contractor, regarding pay and safety conditions, including worker fatigue.

As a result of the industrial action, no ferries will operate from 4am Saturday until 4am Sunday. To mitigate the impact, authorities will provide an additional 36,500 bus trips within 90 minutes of the Riverfire event concluding, which is five times the extra capacity provided in 2025.

Brisbane City Council has criticized the timing of the strike, labeling it a stunt designed to cause maximum disruption during one of the city’s largest annual events. The Brisbane Festival, led by artistic director Ebony Bott, features a program where nearly 70 per cent of events are free to the public.