>has a long history of providing public services for the common good, rather than profit oriented motives.

Hahaha. BOM charges extortionate, nonviable prices for <i>everything</i> above the basics. Australia is one of the hardest countries for us to get reliable weather data from.

The trouble with government agencies run on a cost-recovery basis, is they have no incentive to do anything at a cost that will be recoverable.