Minister Defends Weather Forecast System After Late Flood Warnings

As communities grapple with the aftermath of flooding, Watt emphasised the importance of supporting the BOM, highlighting their continued efforts.

Holloways Beach resident watches the storm across the Coral Sea as Cyclone Jasper approaches landfall in Cairns in far north Queensland on Dec. 13, 2023. Brian Cassey/AFP via Getty Images

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt has defended the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) amid criticism of severe flood warnings in far north Queensland.

Floods following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper left far north Queensland residents stranded, with about 2,000mm of rain falling in some areas over the past seven days.