Accenture's New Climate Data Platform Contract

0:00It's March 31st. Welcome to Adelaide News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Accenture Australia just landed another fat government contract worth nearly $16 million to build a new climate data platform even after. Their last job for the Bureau of Meteorology turned into a total mess. That Bureau website redesigned cost taxpayers $96 million way up from the original $4 million estimate and it rolled out last October. The first update in 12 years. Right away folks complained the radars were confusing and basic weather info was buried, especially during those brutal storms in Queensland and Victoria. Critics are fuming, with green senators calling it a head scratcher, an expensive repeat failure. They point out how Accenture's deal ballooned through nine extensions, pocketing 78 million of that cash. Now this new gig is for the Australian Climate Service, a hub run by the Bureau, CSIRO, and others for climate risks and advice. Meanwhile, CSIRO's eyeing up to 350 more job cuts on top

1:05of 800 gone in the last 18 months. As science budgets tighten and consultants keep cashing in, it's got everyone asking if we're prioritizing flashy sites over keeping researchers on. The ground where we need a most.