All comparisons
Browse all 305 sourced comparisons showing what Australia could have purchased instead of spending $96.5 million on the BOM.gov.au redesign.
📊 Dataset Overview
- Total comparisons: 305 sourced items
- Categories: 16 categories
- BOM Budget: $96,500,000 AUD
- All items verified: Senate Estimates, government sources, and public data
Browse by category
Infrastructure
Physical infrastructure that could have been built
Emergency Services
Emergency services equipment and vehicles
Staffing
Professional staff that could have been employed
Technology
Technology and digital services
Climate Action
Environmental and climate initiatives
Absurd Comparisons
Satirical comparisons highlighting government waste
Education
Schools, teachers, and educational resources
Health Services
Healthcare facilities and medical equipment
Healthcare
Medical services and health infrastructure
Housing
Public and affordable housing initiatives
Defence
Military equipment and defence infrastructure
Transport
Public transport and mobility infrastructure
Environment
Conservation and environmental protection
Arts & Culture
Arts programs and cultural initiatives
Sports
Sports facilities and athlete support
Agriculture
Farming support and rural infrastructure
All 305 comparisons
Weather Doppler Radar
High-resolution Doppler weather radar system for accurate forecasting.
NBN Fibre to Premise Connection
Full fibre-to-the-premise broadband connection installation.
Rural Fire Brigade Sheds
Complete rural fire station with equipment storage and facilities.
Solar Farms (1 MW)
One megawatt utility-scale solar power installation.
Fast EV Charging Station
DC fast charging station with dual plugs (50kW).
Community Water Storage Tank (500kL)
Large community water storage tank with distribution system.
Pedestrian Bridge
Standard 30-meter pedestrian overpass bridge.
Public Toilet Facilities
Accessible public toilet block with four cubicles.
Community Playground
Complete accessible playground with safety surfacing.
Bus Shelter with Real-time Display
Weather-protected bus shelter with digital arrival display.
Bike Path (per km)
Protected bike lane with line marking and barriers.
LED Street Lighting (per street)
Full street LED lighting upgrade (20 poles).
Stormwater Drainage System (per suburb)
Underground stormwater drainage system for average suburb.
Community Recycling Depot
Staffed recycling collection point with sorting facilities.
Automatic Weather Station
Fully automated weather observation station with satellite uplink.
Regional Mobile Phone Tower
Mobile telecommunications tower with 4G equipment.
Community Garden with Water System
Shared community garden beds, tools shed, and irrigation.
Concrete Footpath (per km)
Standard width accessible concrete footpath.
Community Skate Park
Medium-sized concrete skate park with varied features.
Community Car Park (50 spaces)
Sealed car park with 50 spaces, lighting, and line marking.
Public Boat Ramp
Concrete boat ramp with parking and facilities.
Public WiFi Network (per precinct)
Free public WiFi coverage for town center or park.
Traffic Calming (per street)
Speed humps, signage, and line marking for traffic calming.
Digital Community Noticeboard
Outdoor digital display for community announcements.
Park BBQ and Shelter
Covered BBQ area with tables and electric BBQ plates.
Public Safety CCTV System (per location)
Multi-camera CCTV system with monitoring and storage.
Nature Walking Track (per km)
Constructed walking track with drainage and signage.
Multi-purpose Sports Court
Sealed multi-sport court with basketball and netball markings.
Off-leash Dog Park
Fenced dog park with agility equipment and waste facilities.
Public Shade Structure
Large shade sail or structure for public spaces.
Large Air Tanker (LAT)
Large aerial firefighting aircraft for bushfire suppression.
Flood Rescue Boats
Swift water rescue boat with outboard motor and equipment.
Urban Fire Truck
Fully equipped urban fire pumper truck.
Ambulance
Fully equipped paramedic ambulance vehicle.
Rural Fire Tanker
Heavy tanker for rural and bushfire operations.
Rescue Helicopter Flight Hour
One hour of rescue helicopter operation including crew.
Public Access Defibrillator
AED with heated cabinet for public installation.
Surf Lifesaving Patrol Equipment
Complete patrol equipment including IRB, boards, and safety gear.
Emergency Generator (Hospital Grade)
Backup diesel generator for critical facilities.
Fire Bombing Helicopter
Medium firefighting helicopter with water bombing capability.
Hazmat Response Vehicle
Specialized hazardous materials response vehicle with equipment.
Professional Chainsaw and Safety Gear
Commercial chainsaw with full PPE for storm response.
Marine Rescue Vessel
12-meter rescue vessel with electronics and safety equipment.
Emergency Services Radio Network (per region)
Digital radio network for emergency services coordination.
Thermal Imaging Camera
Handheld thermal imaging camera for firefighting.
First Aid Training (per person)
Provide First Aid course with CPR certification.
Emergency Relief Center Setup
Complete emergency shelter with cots, supplies for 100 people.
Technical Rescue Equipment Set
Rope rescue and confined space equipment for one crew.
Wildfire PPE Set
Complete wildfire personal protective equipment.
Water Tanker Truck (10,000L)
Water delivery truck for drought and fire response.
Emergency Warning Siren System
Community emergency warning siren with activation system.
Mobile Command Vehicle
Mobile incident command center with communications.
Community Fire Blankets (100 pack)
Fire blankets for vulnerable community members.
Avalanche Safety Equipment Set
Beacon, probe, and shovel for backcountry rescue.
Emergency Food Supply (per 1000 people)
72-hour emergency food supply for 1000 people.
Senior Meteorologist (annual loaded cost)
Experienced meteorologist with oncosts and benefits.
Indigenous Weather Ranger (annual)
Indigenous ranger program incorporating traditional weather knowledge.
Registered Nurse Regional (annual)
Full-time registered nurse in regional hospital.
Primary School Teacher (annual)
Experienced primary teacher with oncosts.
Aged Care Worker (annual)
Certificate III aged care worker full-time.
Social Worker (annual)
Qualified social worker with case management experience.
Paramedic (annual)
Qualified paramedic with shift loadings.
Career Firefighter (annual)
Full-time career firefighter with shift loadings.
Research Scientist (annual)
PhD-qualified research scientist at CSIRO level.
Parks and Wildlife Officer (annual)
Parks ranger and conservation officer.
Mental Health Support Worker (annual)
Mental health support worker for community services.
Youth Worker (annual)
Qualified youth support worker.
Public Librarian (annual)
Qualified librarian for public library.
Environmental Officer (annual)
Environmental compliance and assessment officer.
Early Childhood Educator (annual)
Certificate III early childhood educator.
Disability Support Worker (annual)
NDIS disability support worker.
Veterinary Nurse (annual)
Qualified veterinary nurse.
Community Legal Worker (annual)
Legal aid and community legal center worker.
Social Housing Officer (annual)
Social housing tenancy and support officer.
Employment Services Consultant (annual)
Job placement and employment services consultant.
AWS Enterprise Support (monthly)
AWS Enterprise cloud support contract for government.
Government Standard Laptop
Secure government laptop with support.
Cybersecurity Training (per employee)
Annual cybersecurity awareness training.
Software Developer (annual)
Experienced software developer with oncosts.
Small Website Hosting (annual)
Shared hosting for small government website.
SEO Services (Underdog Digital, monthly)
Professional SEO to be found in search engines without ruining your ranking like BOM did.
Website Design (Underdog Digital)
Amazing website design from $500.
Enterprise Database Server
High-performance database server hardware.
Mobile App Development (simple app)
iOS and Android app with basic features.
Enterprise Network Switch
48-port managed gigabit network switch.
Video Conferencing License (per user annual)
Enterprise video conferencing software per user.
Enterprise Backup Storage (per TB annual)
Cloud backup storage per terabyte per year.
SSL/TLS Certificate (3-year)
Extended validation SSL certificate for 3 years.
Application Load Balancer (annual)
Cloud application load balancer service annual cost.
Security Penetration Test
Professional penetration testing for government system.
API Gateway Service (monthly)
Managed API gateway service with monitoring.
Application Monitoring Tool (annual per app)
Application performance monitoring and logging.
Content Delivery Network (monthly)
CDN service for fast global content delivery.
Container Hosting (per container monthly)
Managed container hosting service per container.
Website Accessibility Audit
WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance audit.
Email Security Gateway (annual)
Enterprise email security and filtering.
GitHub Enterprise (annual)
GitHub Enterprise for 10 developers.
Enterprise DNS Service (annual)
Managed DNS service for government domains.
AI Chatbot Service (annual)
AI-powered customer service chatbot.
Identity Management System (per 1000 users annual)
Single sign-on and identity management.
Data Warehouse Service (monthly)
Cloud data warehouse for analytics.
Community Solar Project Grant
Community solar installation funding.
Reef Restoration (per hectare)
Coral reef restoration and monitoring per hectare.
Tree Planting (per 1000 trees)
Native tree planting including maintenance.
Electric Vehicle Purchase Subsidy
Government EV purchase subsidy per vehicle.
Home Battery Storage Subsidy
Household battery storage system subsidy.
Mangrove Restoration (per hectare)
Coastal mangrove forest restoration.
Building Energy Efficiency Audit
Commercial building energy assessment.
Household Compost Bin Subsidy
Compost bin or worm farm for households.
Wetland Restoration (per hectare)
Inland wetland habitat restoration.
Rainwater Tank Subsidy
Household rainwater tank installation subsidy.
E-bike Purchase Subsidy
Electric bicycle purchase subsidy.
Carbon Offset (per tonne)
Purchase verified carbon offset credits.
Green Roof Installation (per 100sqm)
Living roof installation on urban building.
Wildlife Corridor Restoration (per km)
Native vegetation corridor for wildlife movement.
Seagrass Meadow Restoration (per hectare)
Coastal seagrass habitat restoration.
Home Insulation Subsidy
Ceiling and wall insulation upgrade subsidy.
Native Seed Collection and Banking (per species)
Collection and storage of native plant seeds.
Cool Pavement Treatment (per km)
Heat-reducing pavement coating for urban streets.
Biochar Production Facility
Small-scale biochar production from waste.
School Climate Education Program
Comprehensive climate education program for one school.
Sydney Opera House Performance
Average ticket price for Opera Australia performance at Sydney Opera House.
Indigenous Art Centre Annual Grant
Annual funding for remote Indigenous art centres supporting Aboriginal artists.
Regional Arts Organisation Grant
Annual funding for regional arts organisation delivering community programs.
Major Museum Exhibition
Major travelling exhibition at National Museum of Australia.
Public Art Sculpture Commission
Major public sculpture commission including design, fabrication and installation.
Community Theatre Upgrade
Regional theatre facility upgrade including lighting, sound and seating.
School Arts Teacher (1 year)
One year salary for qualified arts teacher in public school.
Independent Film Production Grant
Screen Australia grant for independent feature film production.
Regional Music Festival Grant
Regional arts funding for community music festival.
Artist Studio Space (10 years)
Ten years rent for artist studio space in major city.
Writers Residency Program
Six-month funded writing residency including stipend and accommodation.
Symphony Orchestra Performance
Full symphony orchestra concert production costs.
Ballet Production
Full ballet production including choreography, costumes, sets, rehearsals.
Cultural Heritage Digitisation Project
Digital preservation of cultural collections and archives.
Arts Degree Scholarship (3 years)
Three-year full scholarship for Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Cafe Avocado Toast
Smashed avo on sourdough, the reason millennials can't afford houses.
Gold-Plated Koala Statue
Life-size gold-plated koala sculpture for government foyer.
Politician Helicopter Ride
One hour helicopter charter to avoid traffic.
Designer Executive Chair
Ergonomic leather executive chair with gold accents.
Corporate Team Building Retreat
Weekend retreat with trust falls and motivational speakers.
Inspirational Office Poster (framed)
Framed motivational poster with eagles and "SYNERGY".
Consultant PowerPoint Presentation
50-slide deck explaining what your employees already told them.
Executive Leadership Portrait
Oil painting of department secretary for corridor.
Department Rebranding Exercise
New logo that looks exactly like the old one but costs more.
Electric Standing Desk
Height-adjustable desk for maximum productivity theater.
Commercial Office Coffee Machine
Premium espresso machine because instant coffee is for peasants.
Change Management Workshop
Full-day workshop to explain why everything is changing again.
Workplace Mindfulness Consultant
Teach stressed workers to breathe instead of fixing workload.
Designer Bean Bags (set of 4)
Bean bags for "breakout space" that nobody uses.
Corporate Values Consultant
Help discover values everyone already knew: Integrity, Excellence, Innovation.
Corporate Communications Style Guide
200-page guide on how to say nothing in many words.
Agile Transformation Coach
Consultant to make waterfall projects use sticky notes.
Diverse Stock Photo License
Photo of ethnically diverse people laughing at salad.
Innovation Lab Setup
Room with whiteboards where innovation happens by magic.
Annual Sustainability Report
Glossy report about being green while printing it on dead trees.
Team Pizza Party
Pizza instead of pay rise to reward record-breaking workload.
Thought Leadership Article
Ghostwritten LinkedIn article about disrupting paradigms.
Hot Desking Management Software
Software to book desks that used to just exist.
Executive Leadership Coaching
Six sessions to help executive discover they should delegate.
Vision Statement Workshop
Two-day offsite to write "To be the best at what we do".
Employee Engagement Survey
Survey to discover staff are overworked.
Branded Stress Balls (box of 100)
Stress balls with logo because wellness is a commodity.
Cross-functional Synergy Consultant
Consultant to tell teams to talk to each other.
Corporate Values Video
3-minute video nobody watches about values nobody remembers.
Future of Work Research Report
100-page report predicting flexible work (already happening).
Blockchain Proof of Concept
Use blockchain for problem easily solved with spreadsheet.
AI Integration Consultant
Add AI to things that don't need AI because it's 2024.
Metaverse Strategy Consultant
Prepare for metaverse that nobody asked for.
Commemorative Department NFT
Non-fungible token to commemorate department restructure.
Workplace Wellness App Subscription
App to track steps instead of addressing toxic culture.
Digital Transformation Roadmap
Expensive PowerPoint explaining you should use computers.
Office Desk Plant (with pot)
Small succulent to make dystopian office feel natural.
Free Beer for Everyone at MCG
One midstrength beer at MCG.
Tim Tam Packet (200g)
Original Tim Tams at Coles/Woolworths $6.
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle
Snag in bread with onions - peak Australian democracy.
Sydney Harbour Ferry Rides
Single adult ferry trip across Sydney Harbour.
Meat Pie with Sauce
Classic Aussie meat pie from the servo, sauce extra.
Lamington (from school fete)
Single lamington from school fundraiser.
Melbourne CBD Flat White
Single flat white from hipster Melbourne cafe.
Bunnings Warehouse Store
Entire Bunnings Warehouse including land, building, and stock.
Woolworths Mud Cake
The cake that powers every Australian office birthday celebration.
Vegemite Jar (220g)
A jar of concentrated Australian citizenship.
Free Beer for Everyone at NRL Game
One beer at Stadium Australia.
Golden Gaytime Ice Cream
It's hard to have a Gaytime on your own.
Pub Chicken Schnitty with Chips
Parma? Parmi? Who cares - it's a schnitty with chips at the local.
AFL Grand Final Four'n Twenty Pie
Overpriced pie at the footy.
Toyota HiLux SR (new)
Australia's most popular vehicle.
Tank of Petrol (60L)
Full tank at the servo.
Hot Sausage Roll from Bakery
Fresh sausage roll, burning hot, guaranteed to scald your mouth.
Macca's Large Big Mac Meal
It's Macca's, not McDonald's.
Bag of Pink Lady Apples (1kg)
Overpriced fancy apples that taste better than Granny Smiths.
Schooner at the Local Pub
Schooner at your local.
Box of BBQ Shapes
Australia's favourite biscuit (yes, it's a biscuit, not a cracker).
Box of Zooper Doopers (24 pack)
Frozen sugar water that defined Australian childhood summers.
APS Employee Salary ($100k/year)
Average Australian Public Service employee annual salary for one year.
Registered Nurse Annual Salary
Average registered nurse annual salary in Australian public hospitals.
GP Bulk-Billed Consultations (annual per doctor)
Annual bulk-billing revenue for full-time GP (3,000 consults).
Mental Health Treatment Plan (10 sessions)
Medicare rebate for 10 psychology sessions under Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Emergency Ambulance Callout
Average cost of emergency ambulance response and transport.
Public Hospital Bed (per day)
Average cost per occupied bed day in public hospital.
Cancer Treatment Course (chemotherapy)
Average cost of chemotherapy treatment course.
MRI Scan (Medicare rebated)
Medicare rebate for standard MRI scan.
Home Care Package Level 4 (annual)
Annual funding for Level 4 Home Care Package (high care needs).
Public School Teacher Annual Salary
Average public school teacher salary including super and allowances.
Servo Meat Pie
Classic Australian servo meat pie, lukewarm and questionable filling.
Rent PM's Copacabana House (per week)
Weekly rent for Anthony Albanese's $4.3M clifftop Copacabana beach house.
PM's Return Flight to G20 Summit
VIP return airfare for PM and delegation to G20 Summit (business class).
Albanese's Copacabana Beach House
PM Albanese's $4.3M clifftop Copacabana house.
Voice Referendum (Failed)
Albanese's failed Voice to Parliament referendum.
Prime Minister Annual Salary
PM's annual salary plus allowances.
Flat White (Government Building)
Overpriced coffee from parliament house cafeteria.
Full Royal Commission (2 years)
Complete royal commission with hearings, investigations, and final report.
Senate Inquiry (1 year)
Full senate committee inquiry with hearings and report.
Parliamentary Sitting Day Cost
Total operational cost of one day of federal parliament sitting.
Daily Weather Balloon Launch
Atmospheric sounding with helium balloon and radiosonde.
Lightning Detection Station
Ground-based sensor for lightning strike location.
Sea Level Tide Gauge
Permanent sea level monitoring station.
Satellite Ground Receiving Station
Himawari weather satellite data reception facility.
Rural Fire Service Tanker
4WD firefighting appliance with water tank.
Highway Patrol Vehicle
Police interceptor with full fitout.
Rescue Helicopter Flight Hour (Westpac)
Westpac Rescue Helicopter operating cost per hour.
Royal Flying Doctor Flight
Emergency medical retrieval flight, remote area.
MRI Machine (3T)
Medical imaging scanner for regional hospital.
Rural Ambulance Station
Satellite station with vehicle bay and crew quarters.
GP Bulk Billing Incentive
Triple bulk billing incentive per consultation.
Hospital Bed (Electric ICU)
Full electric ICU hospital bed with monitoring systems.
Public Access Defibrillator (Victoria Program)
Automated External Defibrillator with outdoor cabinet.
Mental Health Treatment Plan Sessions
Psychology session under Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Pathology Laboratory Analyser
Automated clinical chemistry analyser for pathology lab.
Electric Wheelchair (NDIS)
Powered wheelchair with customisation for NDIS participant.
Dental Chair and Equipment Unit
Complete dental chair with delivery system and lighting.
Ultrasound Machine (Portable)
Portable ultrasound system with multiple probes.
Aged Care Residential Place
Fully equipped aged care residential place (annual operational cost).
CT Scanner (16-Slice)
Computed Tomography scanner for regional hospital.
Registered Nurse (Annual Salary)
Annual salary for experienced registered nurse in public hospital.
School Laptop Bundle (student)
Chromebook + software + 3-year support.
Teacher PD Day
Professional development per teacher per day.
University CSP (annual)
Commonwealth Supported Place student contribution.
New School Classroom (construction)
Complete new classroom facility for 30 students.
Austudy Payment (annual per student)
Annual maximum Austudy payment for full-time students.
TAFE Diploma Course (full qualification)
Average cost of complete TAFE Diploma qualification.
School Library Complete Setup
Complete library fit-out with books, furniture, and technology.
School Chaplaincy Services (annual)
Annual chaplaincy or student wellbeing services per school.
Indigenous Tutorial Assistance (annual per student)
Tutorial assistance for Indigenous students.
Public Housing Unit (construction)
2-bedroom public housing unit.
Crisis Accommodation Tiny Home
Portable emergency housing unit.
Median Australian Home
Median-priced residential property in Australia.
First Home Buyer Deposit (20%)
20% deposit on median first home.
Social Housing (annual per dwelling)
Annual government subsidy per social housing dwelling.
Commonwealth Rent Assistance (annual per recipient)
Average annual Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment.
Specialist Homelessness Service (annual)
Average annual cost to support one person through homelessness services.
Affordable Housing Bond (per dwelling)
Government bond financing for one affordable housing unit.
Electric Bus
BYD electric bus for public transport.
Separated Bike Lane (per km)
Concrete separated bicycle lane.
Road Resurfacing (per km)
Standard urban road resurfacing per kilometre.
Passenger Train Carriage
New passenger train carriage for urban rail networks.
Traffic Light Intersection Upgrade
Complete traffic signal system installation at intersection.
Pedestrian Crossing Upgrade
Raised pedestrian crossing with tactile paving and signage.
Premium Bus Shelter with Digital Display
Modern bus shelter with seating, lighting, and digital display.
Park and Ride Car Space
Single car parking space at park and ride facility.
Single Lane Roundabout
Single lane roundabout construction at intersection.
EV Fast Charging Hub (4 chargers)
Public EV fast charging station with 4 charging points.
Koala Hospital (annual)
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital full operation.
Wildlife Monitoring Camera
Motion-sensor camera for fauna survey.
Premium Mangrove Restoration (Blue Carbon, per hectare)
Coastal blue carbon ecosystem restoration.
Residential Solar Panel System (6.6kW)
Complete rooftop solar system installation for average home.
Urban Tree Planting (per tree)
Street tree planting including soil preparation and maintenance.
Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs)
One tonne of verified carbon offset (ACCU).
Coral Reef Restoration Project (hectare)
One hectare of Great Barrier Reef coral restoration.
National Park Ranger (annual salary)
Full-time national parks ranger annual employment.
Public EV Fast Charger Station
Single DC fast charging station (50kW) installation.
Threatened Species Recovery Program (annual)
Annual funding for single threatened species recovery program.
Community Sports Grant
Local club facility upgrade grant.
Olympic Athlete Scholarship (annual)
Direct Athlete Support for elite training.
MCG Naming Rights (1 year)
Annual naming rights for Melbourne Cricket Ground.
CommBank Stadium Naming Rights (1 year)
Annual naming rights for CommBank Stadium (formerly Bankwest Stadium).
Regional Sports Stadium
Complete regional multi-sport stadium with seating for 10,000+.
AFL Grand Final Advertising (30 sec)
30-second TV commercial during AFL Grand Final.
NRL Jersey Sponsorship (annual)
Front-of-jersey major sponsor for mid-tier NRL club.
Cricket Test Series Naming Rights
Naming rights for an entire summer cricket Test series.
Drought Relief Package (farm)
Emergency financial assistance per farm.
Farm Water Infrastructure (per hectare)
Dams, pipes, troughs for drought resilience.
Agricultural Tractor (100HP)
Mid-range 100HP agricultural tractor.
On-Farm Grain Silo (200 tonne)
Steel grain storage silo with 200 tonne capacity.
Livestock Yards and Fencing
Complete cattle yards with 2km of fencing.
Centre Pivot Irrigation System
Automated centre pivot irrigation for 50 hectares.
Agricultural Spray Drone
Professional agricultural spraying drone with RTK.
Rural Fire Brigade Tanker
Rural fire brigade water tanker for bushfire protection.
Shearing Shed Upgrade
Modern 4-stand shearing shed with facilities.
Farm Biosecurity Systems
Complete farm biosecurity infrastructure upgrade.
Farm Solar Energy System (30kW)
30kW solar system for farm operations.
Farm Dam Construction (1ML)
One megalitre farm dam with liner.
Parliament House Coffees
Flat white at Aussies Cafe, Parliament House.
Government BMW Lease (month)
Ministerial vehicle with driver.
Military Surveillance Drone
Skylark I-LEX tactical UAV system.
Soldier Combat Ensemble
Full Land 125 equipment kit for one soldier.
Bushmaster Protected Vehicle
Thales Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicle.
Guardian-class Patrol Boat
Pacific Patrol Boat for regional security.
Cyber Warfare Training (per soldier/year)
Advanced cyber security and offensive cyber training.
Military Satellite Terminal
Tactical satellite communications system.
RAAF Pilot Flight Training Hour
Fast jet pilot training on PC-21 aircraft.
Deployable Field Hospital Module
Role 2 Enhanced field hospital capability.
Ammunition Stockpile Replenishment
Standard ammunition stockpile for one infantry battalion.
Military Logistics Truck
Heavy logistics support vehicle with trailer.