Australians Angry as BOM Website Revamp Backfires

Published: 27 November 2025 Thursday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Australia’s beloved weather website, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), faced massive public backlash after a long-awaited redesign went live, leaving users frustrated and confused. The relaunch occurred on 22 October, an unseasonably hot spring day in Sydney, with forecasts predicting 39C (99F). Just the day before, New South Wales had recorded its hottest day in over a century, reaching 44.8C in Bourke.

Within hours of the redesign, complaints flooded social media, with the hashtag #changeitback trending as users vented their frustration. Farmers, fishermen, and everyday Australians criticized the removal of key features, including GPS-specific forecasts, and expressed anger over the confusing new interface. While a few users praised the cleaner design, most felt that the changes reduced usability and left them unprepared during extreme weather events.

The situation worsened when it was revealed that the redesign had cost about A$96.5 million ($62.3m; £48m), far exceeding the initially projected A$4.1 million. Psychologist Joel Pearson described the public response as a classic example of violated expectations, comparing it to spending excessively on a renovation that makes a home less functional.

Within 48 hours, the BOM released a list of instructions to help users navigate the new site, but this further fueled ridicule online. Many people argued that the site should be intuitive without step-by-step guides. Amid mounting criticism, the acting head of the BOM issued a formal apology a week later, acknowledging that the changes had created confusion and frustration among users.

The federal government also intervened, with Energy Minister Chris Bowen stating that the bureau had lost community confidence and ordering immediate improvements. In response, some features from the previous website were restored, allowing users to access familiar tools and functionality.

A month after the relaunch, Dr. Stuart Minchin, the new head of the BOM, admitted that the redesign had been challenging for some and again apologized. The high cost of $96 million covered a full rebuild of the website, as well as testing of the underlying systems and technology that support it. The government demanded a full explanation of how taxpayer funds were spent efficiently.

The controversy even attracted political criticism, with Barnaby Joyce, a member of the Nationals party, sarcastically remarking, “We spent $96 million to put a B at the end of the BOM site. It’s now bomb, it’s hopeless.” Despite the backlash, the bureau has pledged to continue refining the site and improving usability, emphasizing that ongoing updates are part of a commitment to providing accurate and reliable weather information to Australians.

The incident highlighted the challenges government agencies face when modernizing digital services and underscored the importance of considering user experience and timing, especially during critical weather events.