New $16 Million Contract for Climate Data Platform Sparks Value and Funding Concerns
A significant contract has been awarded to technology firm Accenture Australia, the same company behind the widely criticised overhaul of the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website. This new $16 million tender will see Accenture develop a “platform service” for the Australian Climate Service (ACS) over the next three years, with options for extensions that could push the project’s completion to 2033. However, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from individuals familiar with the project, who are questioning its value for money and expressing worries that it could divert essential resources from critical ongoing climate science research.
The Australian Climate Service: A Virtual Hub for Climate Risk
The Australian Climate Service is an innovative “virtual” public service agency, a collaborative effort involving the BOM, CSIRO, Geoscience Australia, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Established in 2021, its primary objective is to enhance the provision of information regarding climate and weather-related risks and their impacts across Australia. A key output of the ACS was the nation’s first national climate risk assessment, released last year.
One of the ACS’s stated priorities is the development of a dedicated portal, now referred to as the “Climate Risk Hub.” This hub aims to consolidate available risk data and scientific findings into a format that is readily usable by decision-makers. This initiative directly addresses a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Natural Disaster Arrangements, which highlighted the urgent need for better organisation and accessibility of climate risk information.
Currently, a data tool is available on the ACS website that visualises hazards, exposure, and vulnerability at a local level. However, the ACS spokesperson indicated that the Climate Risk Hub is envisioned to be far more comprehensive.
“The Climate Risk Hub is the digital environment where the underlying data is brought together in a consistent and standardised way that allows more tools like the Data Explorer to be built,” a spokesperson for the ACS explained.
Scientists Raise Red Flags Over Cost and Priorities
Despite the stated ambitions for the Climate Risk Hub, climate scientists closely involved with the ACS, who have opted to remain anonymous, have voiced significant concerns. They question whether the $15.68 million price tag for the new platform represents a worthwhile investment, particularly if it comes at the expense of the vital weather and climate hazard research conducted by partner organisations like the BOM and CSIRO. These scientists argue that without continuous, robust scientific underpinning, any information presented on the “hub” would quickly become uninterpretable and outdated.
These sentiments have been echoed by Peter Whish-Wilson, the Greens Senator for Tasmania. He has heard similar concerns from scientists, noting that this is a particularly sensitive period for them, marked by job cuts at CSIRO and a general lack of funding across scientific disciplines.
“It’s a very sensitive time for them with job cuts at CSIRO and a lack of funding across the board to science, that the government’s priorities might be all wrong, putting money into potentially expensive websites rather than funding science,” Senator Whish-Wilson stated.
Reflecting on the troubled history of the recent BOM website upgrade, Senator Whish-Wilson expressed scepticism about the wisdom of this new contract.
“I think there’s little trust from Australian taxpayers with their money going to big international consulting firms,” he commented. “They [the BOM] have hired this company before. It was a shit show, and I wouldn’t want to see that happen again.”
The ACS operates as a partnership agency, channelling funds to the BOM and CSIRO to support the research that informs their advice to government, industry, and the public. It remains unclear whether the ACS intends to reallocate funds earmarked for the website’s development away from these research institutions.
However, an ACS spokesperson assured that as the service matures, investment would increasingly focus on ensuring that strong scientific foundations are complemented by the ability to translate that science effectively. They reiterated that the long-term maintenance and resourcing of Australia’s core climate science remains the responsibility of the BOM and CSIRO.
Both CSIRO and BOM have provided assurances that the new platform will not negatively impact their climate research capacity. A CSIRO spokesperson affirmed the organisation’s commitment to its work through the ACS, stating it would continue. Similarly, a BOM spokesperson indicated that the ACS is just one of several entities that the Bureau supplies with climate science and research, and no impact on climate research capacity is anticipated.
A Troubled Past: The BOM Website Overhaul
The controversy surrounding Accenture Australia’s involvement is amplified by its previous work on the BOM website. Launched in October 2025 during a period of extreme weather, the new BOM website was met with widespread criticism for its exorbitant costs and flawed design, including significant issues with its rain radar display.
Initially reported as a $4.1 million reconfiguration cost, the BOM website’s total expenditure was later revealed to be approximately $96.5 million, largely due to the extensive costs associated with upgrading and testing its back-end systems. A substantial portion of this cost is attributed to a $78 million contract with Accenture, which began as a $31 million agreement and expanded through nine subsequent extensions.
During a Senate estimates hearing late last year, Greens Senator Barbara Pocock described the BOM project as a “nightmare Harvard case study in contract failure and management of contracts,” directly criticising Accenture’s approach. “This is a firm that is famous for land and expand,” she noted.
Nichole Brinsmead, BOM’s chief information and technology officer, defended the contract extensions, explaining that the full complexity of the program was not initially understood. Minister for Environment Murray Watt, in the same hearing, suggested that such contracts highlight the need for greater oversight of consultants and increased utilisation of public sector capabilities.
An ACS spokesperson stated that Accenture was selected for the new climate data platform contract following a comprehensive and competitive procurement process. They asserted that “strong due diligence” was exercised, including an assessment of Accenture’s delivery track record, concluding that the company would offer the best value for money to the Commonwealth.
Growing Pressure on Climate Science Funding
The awarding of this contract occurs at a time when climate science globally and within Australia is facing increasing financial and operational pressures. In the United States, significant cuts have impacted government workforces, with science and climate agencies bearing the brunt.
Australia is also experiencing substantial funding challenges, most notably at CSIRO, which is reportedly set to lose up to 350 full-time equivalent positions across its research units, with over 100 job losses anticipated in its Environmental Research Unit alone.
Senator Whish-Wilson expressed that in light of these cuts, Australian scientists are justified in questioning the government’s priorities. “Scientists are going to be devastated if they hear that tens of millions of dollars are being spent on new web services when they’re being told there’s no money to pay for their salaries and for the critical science that they do,” he remarked. “[Science] which, by the way, feeds into Australian Climate Services and will be used on this website or updated web portal.”
In February, BOM Chief Executive Stuart Minchin conveyed an optimistic outlook on the future of Australian climate science, stating he saw no reason for concern and believed there would be a continuing need for it. He acknowledged that future funding decisions rest with the government and various agencies.
A CSIRO spokesperson reiterated that addressing climate change remains a core focus for the organisation. They confirmed that the Environment Research Unit will continue to be one of CSIRO’s largest units, maintaining its commitment to areas of greatest impact for Australia. The spokesperson also noted that no final decisions on proposed internal changes at CSIRO would be made until the formal consultation process concludes.
