Bureau of Meteorology: Role, Recent Developments and Public Trust

Introduction — Why the bureau of meteorology matters

The bureau of meteorology is Australia’s national agency for weather, climate, water, oceans and space weather. Its forecasts, warnings and observations underpin public safety, emergency response, agriculture, transport and many commercial sectors. Recent public debate over branding and a high-profile website update — alongside new trust research — has kept the bureau in the spotlight, highlighting its continuing relevance to communities across Australia and neighbouring countries.

Main body — Structure, services and recent events

Mandate and services

The bureau of meteorology is an agency of the Australian Government responsible for providing weather forecasts and meteorological services to Australia and neighbouring countries. It is the main provider of weather forecasts, warnings and observations to the Australian public and operates a public web homepage that gives access to forecasts, severe weather warnings and observational data.

Areas of coverage

The bureau’s remit extends beyond routine forecasts to include climate monitoring, water information, ocean observations and space weather services. It also publishes historical materials such as cyclone advices — for example, cyclone advices were archived on 11 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine by the bureau.

Recent developments

In October 2022 the bureau requested that media organisations update style guides so the agency should be referred to as the “Bureau of Meteorology” in the first instance and “the Bureau” in subsequent professional references, citing alignment with other governmental agencies and the Act 1955; that decision was reversed later that week. More recently, the bureau apologised for a flawed website update and promised changes following public and media criticism of the new site. The bureau also maintains a public presence through channels such as YouTube to share weather and climate information.

Public trust

Public confidence in the bureau remains strong. In March 2025, research from pollster DemosAU identified the bureau of meteorology as Australia’s most trusted national institution, ahead of organisations including the CSIRO and the Australian Electoral Commission.

Conclusion — Significance and outlook

The bureau of meteorology continues to play a central role in keeping Australians informed and safe. Ongoing attention to how it communicates — from naming conventions to website functionality — will shape public engagement. Given its recent top ranking for trust, the bureau is well placed to lead in weather and climate services, though it will need to address user feedback and maintain clear, accessible communications as climate impacts and extreme weather events evolve.