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BOM Defends $96.5 Million Website Overhaul, Cites Progress as Further Fixes Roll Out

At a Senate estimates hearing, leaders disclosed $1.15 million in late‑2025 adjustments, with near‑term changes scheduled.

Overview

  • Chief executive Stuart Minchin said the rebuild is not a failure, estimating it met 80–90% of intended outcomes while missing key user experiences.
  • Planned updates over the next six months include clearer radar coverage on the Android app, improved navigation, and postcode-based search.
  • Minchin confirmed $1.15 million was spent on incremental improvements in November and December 2025 after the October launch.
  • CIO Nichole Brinsmead said the additional work was budgeted as part of ongoing annual funding for app and website enhancements.
  • The website is one element of the broader ROBUST IT modernisation following a 2015 cyber attack, a program reported at about $866 million that ministers noted was approved in 2017.