Purpose of the Independent Review
The Australian Government appointed an independent panel to review the Australian Climate Service (ACS). The independent panel included Professor Mary O’Kane (Chair), Mr Daryl Quinlivan and Dr Russell Reichelt.
Climate change and natural hazards are becoming more frequent, severe, and complex. Australian decision-makers now need more information and support to understand and respond to these changes.
The review evaluated the performance of the ACS and its suitability to meet our current and future climate information needs. This included:
- reviewing the performance of the ACS since its establishment, its governance arrangements, resourcing and capabilities
- assessing Australia's future climate information needs and the suitability of the ACS to deliver on them.
The review's report was delivered to the government on 30 April 2024.
Final report
The review found there is an urgent and rapidly growing demand for climate and disaster risk information. The Australian Climate Service is unable to support this demand in its current form.
The final report made 11 recommendations. These included:
- Transferring responsibility for emergency management support functions from the ACS to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
- Ensuring a future ACS is service-oriented with a focus on providing practical products and services to all Australians.
- Establishing a portal for climate products and services that builds over time and provides up-to-date climate information that is easy to understand.
Read the report
- Independent Review of the Australian Climate Service: Final Report (PDF 1.08MB)
- Independent Review of the Australian Climate Service: Final Report (DOCX 746 KB)
The Australian Government welcomed the report. Read the response to the review.
Consultation and advice
The panel consulted widely during the Review to inform its finding and recommendations. Consultations included:
- 100 meetings with 57 different stakeholder groups
- 32 written submissions to the public consultation paper.
This included input from the ACS, its partners and customers, Commonwealth agencies, state and territory governments, the emergency management sector, universities and research institutions, peak industry bodies, science professionals, and international climate services.
The consultation paper and public submissions are available on our consultation hub.
Review's Terms of Reference
Independent Review of the Australian Climate Service - Terms of Reference (PDF 197 KB)
Independent Review of the Australian Climate Service - Terms of Reference (DOCX 76 KB)
Panel Members
Professor Mary O’Kane AC
Professor Mary O’Kane AC is the panel chair for the ACS review.
Professor O’Kane has skills in innovation, public policy, research, higher education, energy, and ICT. She has a history of carrying out reviews of Australian Government and scientific agencies. These include:
- 2022 NSW Flood Inquiry
- 2020 NSW Bushfire Inquiry
- Australian Universities Accord (a review of Australia’s higher education system)
- Bureau of Meteorology
Professor O’Kane was vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide and NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer.
Daryl Quinlivan AO
Daryl Quinlivan AO is the NSW Agriculture Commissioner. He was Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2015-2020) after a career in the Australian Public Service. Including:
- Head of Office at the Productivity Commission
- Deputy Secretary in the Department of Broadband, Communications, and the Digital Economy (2011-2012)
- Deputy Secretary in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (2005-2010).
Dr Russell Reichelt AO FTSE
Dr Russell Reichelt AO FTSE has a PhD in marine science, and experience in ocean policy and management. Since 2018, Dr Reichelt has been the Australian Sherpa for the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.
Dr Reichelt is also:
- Board member of the Climate Change Authority
- Chair of NSW Marine Estate Management Authority
- Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
- Fellow of the UK Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology.
Dr Reichelt was Executive Chair of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) from 2007 to 2018. During this period, the GBRMPA developed a new model for environmental reporting and risk assessment for the threats of coral bleaching and rising sea temperatures caused by greenhouse gases. It has since been adopted for the Australian State of the Environment reporting.