Bureau of Meteorology alerts to be reviewed after ‘unforgivable’ failures

A review has been launched by the federal government into potential ‘gaps’ in the nation’s emergency warning system.

Senior BOM meteorologist Laura Boekel. Picture: David Clark

A review has been launched by the federal government into potential “gaps” in the nation’s emergency warning system.

As the east coast of Australia braces for more wild storms this weekend, federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the government would investigate possible shortcomings in the alerts.

The Bureau of Meteorology has been blasted by Queensland mayors for not adequately predicting intense flooding in Cairns following Cyclone Jasper and its “unforgivable” failure to issue timely warnings ahead of the deadly storm that lashed the Gold Coast on Christmas night.

Senator Watt has blamed a communication breakdown between local councils and the BOM for delays in sending out SMS and email warnings to residents in affected areas.

He said the recent criticism of the BOM’s forecasting was unfair and blamed local councils for not communicating the BOM’s warnings through city wide text alerts.

“I can understand people being very frustrated by what is a very unpredictable weather system and it’s difficult for the Bureau of Meteorology to predict, with absolute certainty, what’s going to happen in a weather event that is highly unpredictable,” he told The Australian on Friday.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles and federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt, right, pictured in Cairns with emergency response co-ordinators. Picture: Annette Dew

Mr Watt said the National Emergency Management Agency had been advised to improve communications between the local councils and the BOM.

“I do think that what we’ve found is there has been an issue with that information then being communicated to the public via text messages … Those text messages are sent by councils and what I’ve asked the National Emergency Management Agency to do is to bring together the BOM and the councils to work out if there is a gap between that information being communicated via text messages by councils,” he said.

“We will always take the opportunity to try and improve the services that are provided but as I say I don’t think all of the responsibility lies with the BOM in this case.”

Problems with the emergency alert system were flagged during Brisbane’s flood disaster in 2022, which killed 13 people and damaged more than 9000 homes and businesses.

A koala sits in a tree that was battered during the storm on Christmas Day at Helensvale. Picture: Adam Head

A review conducted by Inspector-General of Emergency Management Alistair Dawson found the Brisbane council had failed to issue timely alerts and some properties were inundated without warning.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said his understanding was that Saturday’s storms would not be as severe, but “Mother Nature is unpredictable”.

He said it was important to have a review as “lives can literally depend on it.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Amaani Siddeek

“I welcome the review,” Mr Tate said. “It was great that Murray came to Gold Coast this week to show federal support and extend hardship payments to those eligible. Yes, we forward warnings received from other agencies as part of the disaster arrangements but let’s be clear – this was a mega storm that has been compared to a category two cyclone.

“The precise warnings were too little and too late and that’s disappointing.”

Plans for the New Year’s Eve weekend may be dampened as Queensland and northern NSW brace for another onslaught of wild weather, with hot temperatures and thunderstorms expected to hit the eastern regions.

Anthony Albanese in Cairns. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Emily Barker

The bureau expects them to redevelop around eastern Queensland and northeast NSW from Saturday and continue into the new year.

However much of the country is expected to have a dry New Year’s Eve.