8 May 2006 - The Hon. Greg Hunt
MP, Parliamentary Secretary with Ministerial responsibility
for the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said
he is delighted that Australia is this year hosting
the World Meteorological Organization Regional
Association meeting in Adelaide.
“This meeting will have a direct
benefit for our neighbours in the region,” Mr
Hunt said.
“The experts will outline the latest science and
technology in many areas critical to our well-being,’
Mr Hunt added. ‘We will hear the latest regional
perspectives on issues like climate change, improved
communicating for tsunami warnings, and sharing
new meteorological technologies with developing
countries.”
“The senior officers of the
World Meteorological Organization—Secretary-General,
Mr Michel Jarraud and President, Dr Alexander
Bedritsky— will attend the 14th Session of Regional
Association V in Adelaide between May 9-16. We
expect up to 70 participants from 21 WMO Members
(Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cook Islands, Fiji,
French Polynesia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia,
Federated States of Micronesia, New Caledonia,
New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,
Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga, UK,
USA and Vanuatu) and international organisations.
The President of Regional Association V is Mr
Arona Ngari of the Cook Islands.”
“In our part of the world, this is something of
a meteorological Olympics: a chance to collaborate,
to improve everybody’s performance by sharing
intellectual and technical strengths. For instance,
the continuing upgrade of meteorology’s global
telecommunications system for improved tsunami
warnings will also mean more efficient distribution
of the region’s weather forecasts and warnings.”
“This meeting, last hosted by
Australia in Melbourne in 1982, comes at a significant
time, given the region’s latest exposures to some
of the worst natural disasters in recent years.”
“In the past 14 months, in Australia
alone, we have seen the fury of three major tropical
cyclones: Ingrid, Larry and Monica had all, at
some point, hit land with category 4 force.”
“The Australian Bureau of Meteorology
played a significant part in reducing the possible
impacts on life and property during Ingrid, Larry
and Monica, given its tremendous service and close
partnerships with state and federal agencies:”
“Warning services such as those
provided by the Bureau are crucial in preparing
communities and emergency services on what to
do before, during and after the disaster event.”
“Meteorology has a remarkable
tradition of international collaboration dating
from establishment of the International Meteorological
Organisation in 1873. Australia has long been
active in the region—we have supplied some regional
observation systems, trained hundreds of specialists
here and in their own countries, transferred new
skills (including seasonal weather prediction),
and shared in special projects like the campaign
to gather and conserve Pacific weather records
dating back to the 19th century, a vital part
of the planet’s climate record.”
Media are invited to the opening
of the Regional Association V meeting at 10am
on Tuesday, May 9 at the Stamford Plaza, 150 North
Terrace, Adelaide.
(Dr John Zillman, Australian
Director of Meteorology from 1978-2003, and President
of the World Meteorological Organization from
1995-2003, will be presented with the 50th IMO
prize (announced last year) at 7.30pm on May 9.)
