澳大利亚气象局（BoM）局长斯图尔特·明钦已下令进行独立审查，以回应该机构投资9600万澳元进行的网站升级引发的广泛公众反对[1]。本次审查将由前莫瑞-达令盆地管理局首席执行官菲利普·格莱德主持[1]，预计在明年3月前完成报告[1]。
网站升级项目遭到严重质疑，因为升级期间农民、应急服务志愿者、海员和气象爱好者在恶劣天气期间难以获取预报[1]。这次独立审查将评估气象局的公众沟通、客户服务、声誉和战略方向是否满足澳大利亚人的需求[1]。环境部长默里·瓦特指出，"BoM在气候变化中保持澳大利亚安全、知情和防灾的作用从未如此重要"[1]。
气象局曾在2022年因欲改名"the Bureau"而引发争议，该改名项目耗资22万澳元，遭到时任环境部长谭雅·普利贝尔塞克批评为"荒谬"[1]。
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology has commissioned an independent review following widespread public outcry over a failed $96 million website upgrade [1]. BoM Director Stuart Minchin initiated the inquiry, which will be led by Philip Glyde, former chief executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority [1]. The review will assess whether the bureau's public communication, customer service, reputation, and strategic direction meet the needs of Australians, with findings expected by March next year [1].
The website redesign created significant problems for multiple user groups during severe weather events [1]. Farmers, emergency service volunteers, mariners, and weather enthusiasts struggled to access forecasts when conditions deteriorated [1]. Environment Minister Murray Watt underscored the bureau's importance, stating that "BoM's role in keeping Australians safe, informed and prepared during climate change has never been more critical" [1]. The controversy marks another setback for the organization, which faced criticism in 2022 over a proposed rebrand to "the Bureau," a move that cost $220,000 before being abandoned following backlash from then-Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, who called it "absurd" [1].