• Introduction
• The Bureau of Meteorology
• Charter
• Goals, Objectives and Policies
• Programs, Outputs and Outcomes
• Organisation
• Operation
• Planning and Evaluation
• Corporate Strategy 2002-07
• Budget and Program 2002-03
• Structure of this Report

Australia has always been challenged by the extremes of its environment, but the very nature of that challenge has bred a robustness and resilience which has become a national characteristic. The last year has drawn heavily on that resilience as Australia experienced what has been widely acknowledged as one of its worst droughts in recorded history. While annual rainfall averages across the continent, and in particular across the Murray Darling Basin, were only the third lowest on record, the dry conditions were seriously exacerbated by record warmth over large areas at the height of the drought. Impacts of the drought were widespread across all of eastern and southern Australia, affecting not just rural communities, which are its most immediate victims, but extending its grip over major cities as well. The hot, dry conditions set the scene for fires and Canberra, the national capital, was especially hard hit, with devastating fires over several days in mid-January causing four deaths, destruction of 530 homes and overall damage estimated at $250 million. The extremity of the drought and the suddenness of the fires were a stark reminder of the vulnerability of Australians to the vagaries of their climate.

The Bureau of Meteorology provided the Australian community with a wide range of essential services throughout the drought and through the fires. Early warning of the El Niño, not in itself a particularly strong event, provided forewarning of the likely extent and duration of the drought, albeit its intensity was less well anticipated, a reminder again of the inherent variability of such events. The Bureau worked closely with its partners and clients across the community to ensure that critical information and services were provided to meet the diversity of operational and strategic needs.

Maintaining its relationships and partnerships, with the community and across government, as well as its high standards of service are, and will remain, of paramount importance to the Bureau. In administrative terms, however, the Bureau entered a new era in 2002-03, with its transition, as of 1 July 2002, to an Executive Agency under the Public Service Act 1999 and, as of 12 September, to a prescribed agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997. As such, the Bureau now has a statutory requirement to present to Parliament a fully comprehensive annual report, complete with audited financial statements, (see pages 169-221). This report is the Bureau’s first as an Executive Agency.