The Bureau of Meteorology’s unpopular new website cost millions of dollars more than previously reported, with the agency’s new chief revealing the price tag for the heavily criticised redesign was actually $96 million.

In his first interview since stepping into the role two weeks ago, new bureau chief Dr Stuart Minchin said he intended to be transparent and admit mistakes the agency made, after its website changes were lambasted as destructive storms hit south-east Australia last month.

Media reports revealed that the website, criticised as difficult to navigate and over changes to its radar map that made place names difficult to read , had cost significantly more than the $4.1 million originally stated by the bureau, as this figure did not include a $78 million website design contrac

See Full Page