According to a study conducted by Roy Morgan, Brisbane was now “streets ahead’’ of Sydney and Melbourne where the impacts of  lockdowns had slowed the return to offices and shopping in the CBD.

In comparison, the average seven-day movement level in the Sydney CBD was at 41 per cent (up 8 per cent points on a week earlier) of pre-pandemic levels in early November compared to 36 per cent (up 9 per cent points on a week earlier) of pre-pandemic levels in the Melbourne CBD. 

“Despite these low numbers (in Sydney and Melbourne) these are the highest average movement levels in both city CBDs for nearly six months since late May 2021,’’ Roy Morgan said.

“Despite the increasingly busy Brisbane CBD the city still trails significantly behind the Adelaide CBD which returned to an average seven-day movement level of 94 per cent of pre-pandemic levels – the highest level of movement since reaching a high of 98 per cent during the Easter holidays in April 2021.

Also performing well were Perth at 82 per cent of pre-pandemic levels while movement levels in the Hobart CBD were at 71 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine said the impressive milestone for the Queensland capital came as vaccination rates in the state accelerated with domestic borders set to re-open to New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT in just over a month’s time on Friday December 17. 

As of this week over 70 per cent of Queensland adults were now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.