Minister Orders Culture Reset at BOM After Website Blowout Soars to $96 Million

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s controversial website upgrade, initially costed at $4 million is now estimated at $96 million.Lightning seen from Anzac Memorial Bridge in Newcastle, NSW in Australia on Jan. 15, 2025. Roni Bintang/Getty Images11/23/2025|Updated: 11/23/2025Environment Minister Murray Watt has called for a “culture change” at Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology after revelations that its troubled website overhaul ballooned from an expected $4.1 million to a massive near $96 million (US$62 million).Watt said he expected the agency’s new leadership to restore public trust and improve internal accountability.Naziya Alvi Rahman is a Canberra-based journalist who covers political issues in Australia. She can be reached at [email protected].Author’s Selected Articles