Brisbane is further North than Sydney, so in theory it is closer. However, is it further West? If it is, then they could be the same distance or Brisbane might even be further. Take Sydney’s proximity to Los Angeles and San Francisco, for instance. L.A. is further South than S.F. so one would think L.A. is closer to Sydney. That is not the case, however. S.F. is further west and therefore is about 70 miles closer to Sydney than is L.A. United lists the mileage between SYD and LAX as 7487 miles. SYD and SFO is 7417.