Sydney has won the unwelcome prize of having the nation’s longest daily commutes. But there is good news for all Australian travellers: we’re spending less time getting to and from work than before COVID-19.

Workers in Sydney devote an average of 59 minutes each day to commuting – nearly a quarter of an hour shorter than the all-time high of 73 minutes in 2019, just before the pandemic.

Workers in Brisbane had the second-longest daily commute time at 56 minutes, on average, with Melbourne third on 55 minutes, according to the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey (HILDA) released on Friday.

Sydney University transport expert Matthew Beck said a major factor in shorter commute times was the increased prevalence of remote working since the onset of the pandemic.

“Be

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