Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has voiced strong criticism over the recent changes to the Bureau of Meteorology’s (BOM) website, which were implemented just as a severe thunderstorm wreaked havoc across the state’s south-east. The storm left tens of thousands without power, highlighting the critical need for accessible weather information.
The revamped BOM site went live last Wednesday, coinciding with a period of wild weather that swept across parts of Australia. On Sunday, the south-east region of Queensland was hit by a severe thunderstorm, accompanied by strong winds and damaging hailstones. This resulted in power outages affecting approximately 120,000 households, with some residents expressing frustration over the new website’s accessibility during the crisis.
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has since declared the storm a “significant event” after receiving 11,000 insurance claims. Meanwhile, BOM defended the redesign, stating that the changes were intended to make weather information clearer and more accessible. The site attracted 2.6 million views on its launch day alone.
Government Criticism and Public Response
In a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Premier Crisafulli emphasized the importance of accessible weather information for Queenslanders to prepare for severe weather events. He criticized the changes as “not good enough” and “nonsensical,” pointing out that the familiar color scheme had been altered.
Queensland’s Energy Minister, David Janetzki, took the criticism further by addressing a letter to federal Environment Minister Murray Watt. Janetzki described the decision to launch the updated site during such a critical time as “short-sighted” and potentially putting “the lives and safety of Queenslanders at risk.”
“Caboolture, a growing area of the south-east corner, has disappeared as a locator on the BOM map,” Janetzki stated. “The strength and associated color coding of the storms that Queenslanders relied on through thick and thin has significantly changed for the worse.”
Janetzki urged the federal government to reassess the impact of these changes and consider improving the accessibility of information as Queensland enters the summer season.
BOM’s Defense and Technical Upgrades
Despite the backlash, BOM stood by its decision to update the site, acknowledging some initial navigation difficulties. Meteorologist Michael Logan explained to ABC Statewide Drive Victoria that the website needed updating to enhance IT systems, and a decision was made to refresh its appearance simultaneously.
“The old website served us really well, but it had been well over a decade since there has been any upgrades to it,” Logan noted.
The redesign, part of a broader $4 million upgrade to BOM’s technology, aims to make the system more secure and stable. This move reflects a growing trend among meteorological services worldwide to modernize their digital platforms to meet contemporary user expectations.
Ongoing Storm Impacts and Future Precautions
As of Tuesday afternoon, approximately 5,500 households in south-east Queensland remained without power. Energex, the energy provider, reported that restoration efforts were hampered by extreme heat and winds. The company expressed hope to restore power by Tuesday evening.
The ICA has warned that the storm could be escalated to an “insurance catastrophe” if claim numbers continue to rise or if the impacts spread geographically. The council also cautioned residents to be wary of “disaster chasers” who exploit insurance claims for profit.
This incident underscores the critical need for reliable and accessible weather information, particularly in regions prone to severe weather events. As Queensland braces for the summer, the debate over the BOM website changes highlights the delicate balance between technological upgrades and user accessibility.
Moving forward, both state and federal governments may need to collaborate to ensure that such digital transformations do not compromise public safety, especially during times of crisis.
