The Bureau of Meteorology has revealed its new website cost $96.5 million, far exceeding the $4.1 million figure initially announced. The breakdown includes $4.1 million for redesign, $79.8 million for the build, and $12.6 million for launch and security testing.
Environment Minister Murray Watt has demanded the agency's new CEO, Stuart Minchin, investigate how costs escalated and report back. Watt expressed dissatisfaction with the website's performance and cost, stating the BOM has not met public expectations.
The website, launched a month ago, drew widespread complaints from users who found it difficult to navigate, particularly the radar map with illegible place names. Farmers criticized the lack of rainfall data. The government intervened, leading to a reversion to the old radar map and other fixes.
Nationals leader David Littleproud condemned the cost as a waste, calling it a 'Labor disaster' that put lives at risk. The BOM defended the rebuild as necessary for modern security and accessibility, and said it continues to listen to feedback.
