Documents that revealed the true cost of the Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) new website could be significantly higher than first thought.
Dear Australian Broadcasting Corporation,
I am writing in reference to your article from 5 November 2025, concerning the cost of the Bureau of Meteorology's new website (URL: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-05/t... ).
Your article states that it is based on "documents" that "reveal" the website's potential costs.
I am requesting a copy of the specific documents that your journalists accessed and are referring to in the story.
Could you please provide me with these materials or let me know how I can access them?
Yours faithfully,
Zack
ABC FOI 202526-063
Good evening Zack
The ABC acknowledges receipt of your freedom of information request below,
sent on Wednesday 5 November 2025, under the Commonwealth Freedom of
Information Act (1982) seeking access to:
… I am writing in reference to your article from 5 November 2025,
concerning the cost of the Bureau of Meteorology's new website
(URL: [1]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-05/t...
).
Your article states that it is based on "documents" that "reveal" the
website's potential costs.
I am requesting a copy of the specific documents that your journalists
accessed and are referring to in the story.
Could you please provide me with these materials or let me know how I can
access them?
It appears the information you are seeking is now in the public domain.
These costs have been reported by various media outlets including the ABC
here (23 November): [2]Bureau of Meteorology's new boss asked to examine
$96.5m bill for website redesign - ABC News
The FOI Act does not provide a right of access to the ABC’s program
material, this includes information used by our journalists to create
stories. Therefore, the ABC would refuse access to these documents should
the request proceed to a formal decision as this information is not
subject to the FOI regime under s 7(2) of the FOI Act.
The BOM is a government department so you may wish to send a FOI request
to them should you require more information about the cost of their
website.
Would you kindly let us know by return email whether you agree to withdraw
this request? If so, then we will close our file.
If not, then decision on the request is due by Friday 5 December 2025,
subject to any extensions of time for consultation or by agreement. The
ABC will notify you if any processing charges apply.
If you seek a formal letter then we would be grateful for an extension of
time, up to 30 days can be agreed. Would 5 January be ok with you?
By making a FOI request, you are providing personal information to the
ABC. The ABC manages personal information in accordance with its Privacy
Policy - available at [3]ABC Privacy Policy – ABC Help - Australian
Broadcasting Corporation Help Centre. Personal information may
be disclosed in the course of processing this request, such as for the
purposes of consultation or internal reporting.
Our apologies for the delay in sending this confirmation email, we are
experiencing a high workload at present.
Many thanks,
ABC FOI team
This email, including any attachments, is intended only for the addressee.
It is confidential and may contain privileged information. You should not
read, copy, use or disclose it, or take any other action in reliance of
the information contained in this email, without authorisation. If you
have received the email in error, please immediately let the sender know
by separate email or telephone and delete the email from your system.
ABC FOI 202526-063
Good evening Zack
Grateful if you could reply to our email of 25 November by Monday 1
December to confirm whether you are happy to grant an extension of time
for processing (such us 30 days) or whether you are happy to withdraw your
request.
This information appears to be publicly available or more aligned with the
operations of the BOM – an agency you are able FOI directly.
We look forward to hearing from you as otherwise this decision falls due
on Friday.
Many thanks,
ABC FOI team
From: FOI ABC <[ABC request email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 25 November 2025 9:09 PM
To: Zack <[FOI #13974 email]>
Subject: FOI 063 - Acknowledgment of request
ABC FOI 202526-063
Good evening Zack
The ABC acknowledges receipt of your freedom of information request below,
sent on Wednesday 5 November 2025, under the Commonwealth Freedom of
Information Act (1982) seeking access to:
… I am writing in reference to your article from 5 November 2025,
concerning the cost of the Bureau of Meteorology's new website
(URL: [1]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-05/t...
).
Your article states that it is based on "documents" that "reveal" the
website's potential costs.
I am requesting a copy of the specific documents that your journalists
accessed and are referring to in the story.
Could you please provide me with these materials or let me know how I can
access them?
It appears the information you are seeking is now in the public domain.
These costs have been reported by various media outlets including the ABC
here (23 November): [2]Bureau of Meteorology's new boss asked to examine
$96.5m bill for website redesign - ABC News
The FOI Act does not provide a right of access to the ABC’s program
material, this includes information used by our journalists to create
stories. Therefore, the ABC would refuse access to these documents should
the request proceed to a formal decision as this information is not
subject to the FOI regime under s 7(2) of the FOI Act.
The BOM is a government department so you may wish to send a FOI request
to them should you require more information about the cost of their
website.
Would you kindly let us know by return email whether you agree to withdraw
this request? If so, then we will close our file.
If not, then decision on the request is due by Friday 5 December 2025,
subject to any extensions of time for consultation or by agreement. The
ABC will notify you if any processing charges apply.
If you seek a formal letter then we would be grateful for an extension of
time, up to 30 days can be agreed. Would 5 January be ok with you?
By making a FOI request, you are providing personal information to the
ABC. The ABC manages personal information in accordance with its Privacy
Policy - available at [3]ABC Privacy Policy – ABC Help - Australian
Broadcasting Corporation Help Centre. Personal information may
be disclosed in the course of processing this request, such as for the
purposes of consultation or internal reporting.
Our apologies for the delay in sending this confirmation email, we are
experiencing a high workload at present.
Many thanks,
ABC FOI team
This email, including any attachments, is intended only for the addressee.
It is confidential and may contain privileged information. You should not
read, copy, use or disclose it, or take any other action in reliance of
the information contained in this email, without authorisation. If you
have received the email in error, please immediately let the sender know
by separate email or telephone and delete the email from your system.
ABC FOI 202526-063
Zack
Thank you for your email. Confirming the ABC has closed this file as withdrawn by agreement on 2 December 2025.
Many thanks,
ABC FOI team
P: 02 8333 3312
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians
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This email, including any attachments, is intended only for the addressee. It is confidential and may contain privileged information. You should not read, copy, use or disclose it, or take any other action in reliance of the information contained in this email, without authorisation. If you have received the email in error, please immediately let the sender know by separate email or telephone and delete the email from your system.