Tag Archives: oceania

Weather bureau executive retires months after panned $96 million website relaunch

The executive who headed the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) during the heavily criticised relaunch of its website last year has retired.

Dr Peter Stone, who was the acting chief executive officer of the organisation when a relaunch, which cost $92 million more than first reported, was criticised by users over complaints about various features, usability, and the new rain radar.

The old rain radar was swiftly restored after pressure from the federal government, and Stone stepped aside from his role as acting CEO, being replaced by Dr Stuart Minchin.

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The Bureau's acting chief executive Dr Peter Stone this afternoon defended the layout of the website, but committed to making improvements to the user experience.

The BoM has now confirmed Stone will leave the agency entirely at the start of next year after finishing active duties next month and taking extended leave.

Stone joined the agency in 2017.

"The Bureau of Meteorology's chief Customer Officer and Group Executive Business Solutions Dr Peter Stone has made the decision to retire," a Bureau spokesperson told nine.com.au.

"Dr Stone's last day at the Bureau will be 30 June 2026."

Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt arrives for Question Time

The bureau came in for significant criticism from the public and politicians, with Environment Minister Murray Watt issuing a rebuke after the overspending was revealed by Minchin.

"Our government's unyielding expectation is that the BoM, as with all federal agencies, spends taxpayers' money efficiently and appropriately," Watt said last year.

He seemed to endorse a change of leadership, saying he was "looking forward to a bit of change in the culture and approach of the BoM."

Minister Watt's office was contacted for comment.

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Opposition leader opens door to potential One Nation partnership

The federal opposition has opened the door to a potential partnership with One Nation in an attempt to unseat the Labor government. 

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor this morning refused to rule out working with One Nation, after the minor party rode a recent record wave of support to steal voters and the seat of Farrer from the Coalition.

"I will work with whoever I can work with to stop Labor getting those taxes through and I will work with whoever I can work with to defeat Labor at the next election," he told Sky News.

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Opposition Leader Angus Taylor.

"I hope One Nation will vote with us on axing those taxes and, as I say, we will do whatever we can to beat Labor."

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has previously said she would be willing to offer the Coalition confidence and support in the event they needed her numbers to form a majority in the House of Representatives at a federal election.

However, she said she would not take up a ministerial role in that situation. 

"I don't want a ministerial position because that means they will be able to shut me down, dictate to me, and I have to pass bad legislation, support them on it. I'm not going to do that," Hanson previously told The Australian.

The latest Resolve poll for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age showed Taylor had nudged ahead of Anthony Albanese as the preferred prime minister for the first time.

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One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson addresses the Senate.

Labor's primary vote slipped to 29 per cent, while One Nation rose to 24 per cent and the Coalition remained steady at 23 per cent. 

It was the first poll after the government handed down its federal budget, including changes to negative gearing, the capital gains tax discount and other controversial tax reform, which Treasurer Jim Chalmers admitted could cause a slump in popularity.

"It would surprise me more if we got some sort of bounce in the polls from the difficult decisions we took in the budget," he admitted yesterday.

The Coalition has lost some of its voters to One Nation after its disastrous loss at last year's federal election and in the fallout of several leadership changes.

One Nation's record rise in the opinion polls has been proven at the polling booth after winning seven new state MPs at the South Australian election and snatching the seat of Farrer from the Coalition for the first time in its 77-year history.

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Dodgy booze that killed teens found in local liquor stores

Contaminated alcohol is finding its way onto Australian liquor store shelves in alarming numbers, prompting a dire warning from the grieving father of a Melbourne teenager who was fatally poisoned in Laos.

Around 30 per cent of bottle shops in Australia are now stocking dodgy booze, according to new research by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)

Forensic testing carried out by NDARC has found bootleg vodka is being sold at licensed retailers in Melbourne, often at a cheaper price point than legitimate brands.

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Contaminated booze

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The bottles, which contained methanol and plastic contaminants, are being sold to "unsuspecting customers", NDARC's Dr Michala Kowalski said.

"People have very little to differentiate between cheap and potentially contaminated products when looking between bottles on a store shelf," Kowalski said.

"Ingestion of methanol at sufficient levels can be toxic and lead to symptoms ranging from vomiting and abdominal pain to blindness, coma and death."

Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both aged 19, were killed in November 2024 after unknowingly ingesting methanol-laced alcohol while on a backpacking trip in Laos.

Bianca's father, Mark, told 9News he is "disgusted" by NDARC's findings.

Mark had hoped the illicit alcohol trade which killed his daughter and her friend was a problem that wouldn't reach Australian shores. He was wrong.

"[I'm] quite angry really. Angry that bootleg alcohol is being served here in Melbourne," Mark told 9News.

"To think that the methanol is being sold in retail outlets here is disgraceful.

"It's incredibly scary… we have a heavily regulated alcohol system and it needs to remain that way for a reason."

The sheer scale of the illegal alcohol market in Australia is untested.

However, it is believed to be worth at least $767 million annually, the equivalent of 14 million bottles of vodka, according to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

Mark said Australians need to exercise extreme caution when buying or consuming alcohol products which seem "too good to be true".

"I would encourage everyone to remain vigilant in what they're doing, when they're buying their alcohol," he added.

"It's absolutely not worth it. Be vigilant, check the bottles, make sure they look legit."

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Mark Jones, father of Bianca Jones

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It isn't just limited to bottle shops either.

Kowalski said illicit alcohol is also being sold in pubs and nightclubs across Australia.

"We have also been told by law enforcement and liquor regulators in several states that these products are increasingly being sold not just in bottle shops but at on-licensed venues like pubs, nightclubs and pubs," she said.

Victoria Police's State Liquor Unit said it is currently investigating 80 licensed venues for production and importation of illicit alcohol.

National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline 1800 250 015

Support for families and friends of individuals experiencing alcohol or drug dependency: Family Drug Support Australia 24/7 Support Line – 1300 368 186