The Nationals leader David Littleproud has called for accountability following revelations the Bureau of Meteorology’s controversial new website cost far more than previously reported, with the total bill hitting $96 million.
“It is unbelievable a private consultancy was paid $78 million to redesign the website, but then security and system testing meant that Australian taxpayers actually paid $96 million ,” Mr Littleproud said.
The cost blowout, first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, comes after months of criticism over the website’s usability, particularly changes to radar maps and difficulties navigating localised data.
The SMH reported that new bureau chief Dr Stuart Minchin confirmed the full $96 million price tag in his first interview since taking the role two weeks ago, including the consultancy contract, security testing, and other associated costs.
Mr Littleproud said the cost overruns are not just a financial issue but a safety concern.
“The seriousness of this cannot be understated. This isn’t just about a clunky website, the changes actually put lives and safety at risk,” Mr Littleproud said.
“The new platform did not allow people to enter GPS coordinates for their specific property locations, restricting searches to towns or postcodes.
“Families and farmers could not access vital, localised data such as river heights and rainfall information and this missing data created panic and fear across communities,” he said.
He added that the BOM’s failures are part of a broader pattern of mistakes, including incorrect forecasts that have cost farmers heavily.
“It is actually a safety matter and a financial issue, in terms of livestock and machinery, that has enormous impacts during floods and storms.”
“Let’s not forget the BOM predicted the East Coast was going to have a drought, creating panic where a whole lot of farmers offloaded all their livestock. We then had one of the best seasons we have ever had. This was devastating for farmers who had already sold everything.
“The BOM’s mistakes are unforgivable because people’s livelihoods depend on the accuracy of their information,” Mr Littleproud said.
He called for a thorough review of the bureau and said Australians deserve transparency.
“When government failure destroys lives, serious questions need to be answered. Australians deserve to know how this latest disaster unfolded.
The SMH reported that Dr Stuart Minchin, who took over from former chief Dr Andrew Johnson, has pledged to be more transparent about the Bureau’s errors and challenges, including adapting to changing climate conditions and using new technologies such as AI in forecasting.
The Bureau has faced repeated criticism in recent years, including issuing a false tsunami warning last year and a public backlash over rebranding itself from “the BOM” to “the Bureau” in 2022.
Dr Minchin told the SMH that part of his focus will be explaining the bureau’s performance and improving communication with the public.
“There are few roles where your science can be immediately impactful to every person on their daily lives and their safety,” Dr Minchin said.
