Brisbane City Council is the largest local government in Australia, covering an area of 1342.7 square kilometres. Brisbane is a youthful and enthusiastic city, home to more than 1.28 million people. The city is appreciated by residents and visitors alike for its friendliness and optimism. Brisbane enjoys a subtropical climate with humid summers and mild winters. The Brisbane River is a special feature, winding 115.5 kilometres through the city.

Brisbane City Council manages Australia’s biggest local government budget at $4 billion for 2022-23. Its workforce headcount of more than 9,000 employees delivers core local government services such as public transport, urban management and city administration to a culturally diverse population.

Council maintains 5,760km of roads and an extensive network of bikeways and is focused on easing traffic congestion through road improvements and better public transport.

A thriving city

Council is working to build a stronger economy with a development plan that will double the city’s share of GDP over the next twenty years while rolling out the most ambitious environmental agenda in the city’s history.

Brisbane’s thriving economy is driving the city’s growth. Jobs in metro Brisbane are growing faster than the population as its enviable lifestyle draws investors, entrepreneurs and global companies here for business.

Council provides highly professional expertise to deliver large-scale projects with the private sector and other levels of government to work together and make a difference to Brisbane.

The Lord Mayor and twenty-six councillors govern the operations of Council.

Lord Mayor profile: Adrian Schrinner

Adrian Schrinner became the 17th Lord Mayor of Brisbane in 2019, with many years of experience as Councillor and former Deputy Mayor of Australia’s largest local government.

Adrian was born in Brisbane and grew-up on the Southside. He learnt the foundations of hard work from his parents as they ran their small suburban cleaning business. His first job was working in the family business, and he spent his school holidays earning money for flying lessons. He flew solo for the first time at the age of 16.

After serving for a short period in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Adrian wanted to give back to the community he grew-up in. He completed his university studies while working as a cleaner and delivery driver. Following university, he worked in a range of roles in both Federal and Local Government. He was particularly drawn to the unique community building and city-shaping role that Brisbane City Council played and jumped at the opportunity to serve the residents as a local Councillor.

He was first elected as the Councillor for Chandler Ward in 2005 and within three years was asked by the Lord Mayor to join Civic Cabinet. Chairing several different committees – Finance, Transport and Infrastructure – over many years, provided Adrian with extensive experience across key areas of Council responsibility. In 2011 he was elected by his colleagues as Deputy Mayor, and served in this role for 8 years.

Adrian has a clear vision for the future and his simple goal is to ensure the Brisbane of tomorrow is better than the Brisbane of today.

By delivering new infrastructure for a growing city and record investment in parkland and greenspace, Adrian is leading his team to transform Brisbane for the better.

City-shaping projects are underway and include: the turn-up-and-go Brisbane Metro; green bridge construction and the Victoria Park vision that will create Brisbane’s biggest new park in 50 years. Meanwhile, Adrian is firmly focused on improving the areas where most residents live, and his “suburbs first” guarantee is ensuring that at least 80 percent of all Council expenditure is invested in the suburbs.

As Chair of the Council of Mayors (South East Queensland), Adrian played a vital role in helping to finally secure the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games for the region. He is now a Vice President and board member of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee.

Adrian and his wife Nina’s proudest achievements are their four young children who they are raising together in Carindale. As a father and Lord Mayor, he is determined to ensure Brisbane just keeps getting better.