A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will invest $10 million to establish a new weather radar in regional Queensland to help communities, emergency services and businesses access reliable flood forecasts and warnings.

The commitment for the new radar would improve coverage in regional Queensland, after the former Coalition Government cut jobs and staff at the Bureau of Meteorology and refused to fund vital flood warning infrastructure for the state.

In 2021, the Morrison Government – of which Peter Dutton was a Cabinet Minister – was slammed for cutting funding to the Bureau and closing the Rockhampton office.

This funding also builds on the Albanese Government’s existing $236 million investment to establish a national, reliable flood warning network and better prepare communities for flooding events.

Working with state, territory and local governments, the Bureau of Meteorology has begun acquiring more than 1,500 additional gauges, with around 1,000 of these located in Queensland – 200 of which will be acquired by the end of June 2025.

For almost a decade, the Liberals and Nationals ignored calls from local and state governments for a national solution to address critical, long-standing risks in Australia’s flood gauge network.

Studies as far back as 2015 called on the Federal Government to consolidate, upgrade and assume responsibility for ongoing maintenance of the flood network.

But the Liberals didn’t act, and left communities uninformed or unprepared during floods because of broken or outdated flood gauges.

Labor has wasted no time cleaning up the mess left by the Liberals’ neglect.

The location of the new radar will be established based on the advice of the Bureau of Meteorology.
 
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“These are tough times but Queenslanders are tougher.

"We've got their backs right now, and will have it during the recovery and as they prepare for future floods.

“We're determined to support Queensland, by investing in infrastructure like this, as part of our record investment since coming to Government.”
 
Quotes attributable to Minister for Environment Tanya Plibersek:

“Australians rely on the Bureau of Meteorology to provide timely, accurate and reliable advice. It is a vital resource for communities, emergency workers, and essential services.

“When we came to government, we inherited a backlog of critical work that the Liberals had ignored. Since then, we’ve been investing in new and updated equipment to make sure communities have accurate and efficient advice.

“That’s why the Albanese Labor Government has already invested more than $2 billion to make sure BoM can continue to do this important work.
 
“It’s a bit rich for the Liberals, who neglected the system for a decade, to now say they’re committed to helping communities during extreme weather events.

“Peter Dutton has promised to cut 41,000 public servants - how many of those will be meteorologists and hardworking BoM staff? Only Labor will invest in the infrastructure and workers that keep communities safe.”
 
Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister:

“Good information about rainfall and flooding is critical to keeping communities safe. It’s why we have prioritised upgrading gauges, including in Western Queensland.

“Today’s commitment will add to our investments to better prepare Australians from natural disasters, providing communities with more accurate data.

“For years, the former Liberal-National Government neglected calls from local and state governments to upgrade and maintain flood gauges in high-risk communities.

“Whether it’s funding a weather radar or new multi-hazard aircraft as part of our National Aerial Fleet, the Albanese Labor Government is helping better prepare and protect communities for flood now and into the future."