Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology launched a new website interface in mid-October at a cost of $96.5 million, far exceeding the original budget of $4.1 million, sparking strong criticism from federal MPs and the public. This is the bureau’s first major overhaul in nearly a decade, aimed at improving user experience and backend security, but feedback has so far been largely negative.
Since going live on October 23, the new website has drawn public complaints over difficulties accessing weather information, confusion in radar rain maps, and inconvenient navigation, with significant impact on users who rely on forecasts for agriculture and outdoor activities. Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the changes were “unacceptable,” accusing the upgrade of “completely ruining” what was previously a good service, and likened the redesign to “a bomb.”
Political leaders have also raised concerns over the massive expenditure. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek noted that part of the spending was allocated to essential upgrades, including backend security, but said the final cost was still unexpected. Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt said he had met with the acting director and newly appointed director, Stuart Minchin, requesting an explanation for management practices and the budget blowout, and said he expects improvements in culture and operations. Minchin also pledged that an improved version of the website would be released this week, but the planned update was delayed due to the impact of Tropical Cyclone Felina. He emphasized that maintaining public trust in the bureau is crucial.
The bureau’s website is one of the most widely used information platforms in Australia, attracting millions of users daily and providing forecasts, warnings, and various meteorological data. Although the redesign intended to update technology and the interface, the lack of effective user-experience testing and cost control has sparked widespread controversy. Analysts say the incident highlights shortcomings in planning and oversight within government and public agencies during major IT system upgrades, and raises concerns about transparency in the use of public resources.