Local councils across Australia are facing a new financial hit from the Albanese Government, with the Bureau of Meteorology set to stop supporting free software that gives them real-time rainfall and river level data for flood emergencies from July 2026.
For almost 30 years, councils – especially in Queensland – have relied on the BOM’s Enviromon system at no cost to monitor floods and issue timely warnings to residents. From mid-2026, the BOM will no longer provide support or updates for the program, forcing councils to pay for expensive commercial alternatives or build their own systems.
This means ratepayers will be left footing the bill for services that were previously funded by the Federal Government.
Smaller, rural and regional councils could face annual costs of $10,000 to $40,000, while larger councils like Brisbane and the Gold Coast are looking at initial set-up costs of half a million dollars or more, plus ongoing fees.
Dr Anne Webster, Shadow Minister for Local Government, said the decision was a classic example of federal cost-shifting to local government at the worst possible time.
“This is unreasonable to expect local councils to pay for Emergency systems that belong to the Federal government. It is yet another burden being dumped on local councils and ratepayers by a Labor Government that claims to care about cost-of-living pressures,” Dr Webster said.
“Many councils – particularly in rural and remote areas – are already grappling with severe financial strain, tight budgets and limited resources. Now they’re being told to find tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for software that the BOM used to provide for free.
“This isn’t just about money – it’s about people’s safety. Real-time data saves lives by giving communities vital minutes to prepare and evacuate. Any delay or reduction in capability because a council cannot afford the new system could have tragic consequences.
This is just another example of the Albanese Labor government failing regional, rural and remote people who deserve better, just as they leave regional, rural and remote people without proper investment in healthcare, aged care and childcare such that people in the regions miss out.
Nationals Senator for New South Wales and Shadow Minister for Emergency Management Ross Cadell, described the move as an example of “bureaucratic cost shifting with potentially deadly consequences.”
“In the event of a disaster, local governments deserve to be supported, not be asked to pick up the bill to access information the taxpayer has already funded,” Cadell said.
“During times of crisis, access to real time data shouldn’t be a case of those who can afford and those who can’t.
Dr Webster called on the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Emergency Management to urgently intervene and ensure no council is left worse off.
“The Albanese Government should reverse this decision immediately and find a way to keep this critical emergency tool free for local governments. Ratepayers shouldn’t be forced to pay for a service the Commonwealth has always delivered.” Dr Webster said.
