The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued an apology for its controversial website overhaul, promising adjustments after widespread criticism from users and political figures. The refresh, the first in 12 years, has been slammed for removing easy access to individual radar images and altering the familiar colour scheme, with many Australians complaining on social media.
Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt summoned BoM CEO Dr Peter Stone to a meeting after the negative feedback. Watt stated the new site was 'not meeting many users’ expectations' and urged the bureau to adjust settings as soon as possible. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli called the $4 million update 'flawed', noting it hindered preparation for recent storms.
Dr Stone acknowledged the unpopularity, saying: 'We didn’t make the change lightly and I sincerely apologise for the challenges the change has caused.' He maintained that forecasts and warnings remain unaffected but conceded improvements are needed. 'We are moving quickly to act on the feedback received, and I am confident the community will start to see more improvements in the coming weeks,' he added.
Federal Nationals leader David Littleproud raised concerns from rural Queenslanders, who reported difficulty navigating the site and an inability to enter GPS coordinates for property-specific data. He called for a review and restoration of key tools like river heights and rainfall information, especially ahead of the wet season.
The BoM has encouraged continued feedback as it rolls out regular updates based on user input. Minister Watt has pledged to monitor the situation to ensure Australians have confidence in these essential services.
