FEBRUARY 8, 2016: LOSING on-the-ground Bureau of Meteorology forecasters in regional Queensland is a potentially life-threatening step for a region that faces extreme weather events.I’m disgusted by this move to cut Bureau of Meteorology staff in regional Queensland, including Mackay and Townsville.The Mackay radar system is notorious for dropping out.A new fully-automated system may be a better system, but the fact that there’s no-one around to fix things if needed is of grave concern.Mackay and Townsville are in the firing line of extreme weather events like cyclones.To have an unmanned system that could drop out during a cyclone event is potentially life-threatening.We should be creating government jobs in regional centres rather than cutting them.The Federal Liberal National Government gave an undertaking to shift government departments and public servants into Northern Australia, not to cut them, and this comes at a time when the employment situation, should bureau staff want to continue to live in Mackay or Townsville, is dire.I’m also extremely disappointed by the lack of consultation on this. My office was first informed on Wednesday, and it was announced on Friday.Local government authorities had also voiced concerns regarding the Bureau of Meteorology decision.I am advised by mayors that these weather bureau staff provide active assistance and advice for local disaster management co-ordination teams.That type of assistance could be invaluable, and it provides the kind of practical experience that cannot be replicated by machines.I am writing to Minister Greg Hunt, and will be doing whatever I can to see this decision overturned.