Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister of the Environment and Water, Senator Watt. Senator, there were a barrage of complaints from the public regarding the rollout of the Bureau of Meteorology website, including one from your colleague climate change minister Mr Bowen where he said:

The bureau clearly has work to do in that it has lost community confidence in the new website.

Were you, your office or your department included in a pre-rollout of the $4 million website, and, if so, when?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Cadell. I know you have a genuine interest in these matters. You will have seen that, last week, I made public comment on this matter, and I recognised the very large number of complaints that had been received about the changes the Bureau of Meteorology had made to their website. As a result of that, I had a meeting with the Acting CEO of the BoM. I explained to him my view that, clearly, the new website did not meet users' expectations, and I asked him to consider urgent changes to the website. I'm pleased that they took that feedback on board and have begun making changes. I was not personally briefed or involved about the new website, certainly not verbally. I don't recall ever seeing a written brief about that as well. I'm not aware of my office having been involved. I'm not sure what my department's involvement was, but I'm happy to come back with any further information I may have. But I was not personally involved.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cadell, first supplementary?

Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Similar to that, were you aware of any external contacts or any external testing of the website from outside the bureau anywhere, including the department, before it went live to the Australian public?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm certainly aware that the BoM undertook testing of its new website prior to it going live. They've put it on the public record themselves that there was—I'm not the most technologically advanced person here, but I think it was what's known as a beta website, which is, effectively, a draft website enabling people to provide feedback on that. There are probably many people here who know these things better than me! I am aware that the BoM did undertake that kind of testing, but, beyond that, I'm not aware of any other testing that occurred. If there's anything I can add to my answer, I will.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cadell, second supplementary?

Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You mentioned that you called the BoM in for answers about what had gone on in reviewing that policy. Why did it take a public outcry and the failures around the Brisbane storms before you did that?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The BoM itself has said that, in the testing of its website that it undertook prior to it going live, the feedback they had received had been extremely positive. Clearly, that was not the experience of Australians, including in South East Queensland when some very severe storms came through. That feedback was heard loud and clear by the BoM, and it certainly was heard loud and clear by me. I'm pleased that, as I say, they've made changes to that website, and they intend to make more.