The federal government has directed the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) to address issues with its new $4.1 million website following a torrent of complaints from Australians, including farmers who report difficulty accessing critical weather data. The website, described by BOM as 'modern and sleek,' went live last week during severe weather events in Victoria and extreme heat across the country.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen acknowledged the redesign missed the mark, while Environment Minister Murray Watt discussed the matter with BOM acting chief executive Peter Stone, stating the site was 'not meeting many users' expectations.' Watt emphasized the need for urgent improvements to functionality and usability to ensure public safety remains the priority.
Dr. Stone apologized for the challenges caused by the change, noting that observations, forecasts, warnings, and severe weather updates remain available. The bureau has been asked to brief state and territory emergency services ministers this week on steps being taken to improve the site.
Nationals leader David Littleproud called for a review, citing complaints from his Queensland electorate about the inability to enter GPS coordinates for specific property locations, restricted searches, and difficulty finding radar functions. Agronomist Malcolm Taylor described the redesign as a 'complete cock-up,' stressing the critical need for accurate weather information for farmers.
The BOM website typically receives 1.8 million visits daily, spiking to 5.7 million during extreme weather. A BOM spokesperson said the new site is the 'most complex technological transformation ever undertaken by the bureau' and noted that feedback during a 12-month beta testing phase was 'overwhelmingly positive.'
