Labor to question cuts to forecasting at Adelaide’s Bureau of Meteorology

CUTS to local forecasting at Adelaide’s Bureau of Meteorology will go under the microscope as a week of scrutinising how taxpayers’ money is spent begins on Monday.

CUTS to local forecasting at Adelaide’s Bureau of Meteorology will be put under the microscope by the Opposition – as a week of scrutinising how taxpayers’ money is spent begins on Monday.

Budgeting decisions in the environment and energy portfolios will be the first to come under fire in Senate Estimates, followed by industry, defence, finance and the Murray Darling Basin plan.

Port Adelaide MP Mark Butler said Labor would be questioning proposed changes at Adelaide’s Bureau of Meteorology that will result in forecasting being moved to Brisbane and Melbourne.

“These highly skilled BOM staff members – who specialise in South Australian weather – are essential to providing forecasts that our state’s residents, businesses and emergency service workers rely on,” Mr Butler said.

“The loss of this local expertise has the potential to be devastating … and once these resources go they are unlikely to come back.”

Lightning strikes over Adelaide, as seen from Anstey Hill. Picture: Shaun Blair

The Federal Government’s investment in defence projects including shipbuilding and submarines, and housing for defence personnel, will also be the focus of questioning from the Opposition and Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick.

Colleague Senator Stirling Griff will be demanding transparency in the aged care and health system.

Greens Senator and environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said the state’s renewable energy industry had been thrown into further uncertainty following the Morrison Government’s dismissal of a recent climate change report.

“We will be seeking details on transitioning out of fossil fuels in SA, considering the UN’s recent harrowing climate change report that goes against drilling in the Great Australian Bight and extracting toxic gas in Leigh Creek,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

“The Government has some serious questions to answer over its flawed plan to dump nuclear waste in South Australia’s pristine Flinders Ranges and agricultural land.”

Independent Senator Tim Storer will also be putting the pressure on the Government’s work with the electric vehicles industry, while SA business groups are hoping for clarity for small business, and changes to capital gains tax.

Lightning strikes over SA — October 2018

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Originally published as Labor to question cuts to forecasting at Adelaide’s Bureau of Meteorology