Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has renewed calls for greater accountability at the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), expressing dissatisfaction with progress in addressing operational shortcomings highlighted during recent flooding events. Speaking at the Queensland Media Club on Wednesday, Crisafulli said he remained unconvinced that the bureau had made sufficient improvements since earlier criticisms, particularly concerning investment in critical infrastructure such as radar coverage and satellite technology.
The Premier’s comments come almost a year after he publicly criticized the BOM following a severe flood in north Queensland, where many weather radars and river gauges were reported offline. In January, Crisafulli called it “unacceptable” that 25 automatic flood gauges in the state’s northwest were non-functional during the floods, which isolated remote communities and severely impacted graziers. He emphasized the life-and-death importance of timely and accurate information for residents in regional areas.
“Information in these situations, it’s life and death for people living in remote communities,” Crisafulli said. “When it’s not there, it means they have to second guess the way they respond.” He stressed that despite population declines in some regional areas, investments in monitoring and safety systems must not be reduced. Rather, he argued, residents in isolated locations face heightened risks and require improved disaster preparedness.
While acknowledging ongoing challenges with some river gauges, Crisafulli also stated his belief that Queensland’s disaster readiness was currently at its strongest. He pointed to recent changes in federal disaster funding as a positive development that could bolster future responses ahead of storm season.
The Premier’s criticism is part of a broader scrutiny of the bureau’s performance, which has intensified following a damning forensic report revealing significant failures within the agency. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has joined calls for an independent review, urging the current Labor government to commission an inquiry into the BOM’s operations. Abbott cited “too much evidence of poor practice to ignore,” highlighting past concerns within his own administration about the bureau’s climate data handling.
Abbott recommended that the BOM retain its credibility by initiating its own internal audit concerning widespread errors identified in raw climate data. Maurice Newman, who served as Abbott’s business advisory council chief, has similarly advocated for a comprehensive overhaul, describing the situation as warranting a “root and branch” inquiry into the agency.
Crisafulli acknowledged that the issues at the bureau extend beyond the current government, stating that they predate Labor’s term and involve multiple administrations. He called for the BOM to be more responsive to ministerial directions, indicating that some guidance given to the agency had not been adequately heeded.
“When we are making decisions in real time, when disaster strikes, it matters,” Crisafulli said. “I’m not comfortable that we yet have in place sufficient numbers of radars covering particularly western Queensland.”
As Queensland approaches another storm season, the Premier maintained that while more work remains, efforts to improve disaster monitoring and response must continue with urgency to better protect vulnerable regional communities.