The Bureau of Meteorology has been criticised for the cost and timing of new marketing changes. 

The Bureau of Meteorology this week sent out a media statement asking newsrooms to refer to it as “the Bureau of Meteorology” in the first instance and simply as “the Bureau” in subsequent mentions.

“The Bureau of Meteorology asks that media outlets update editorial style to ensure references to the organisation are by its full name, the Bureau of Meteorology or the Bureau for short, and not BOM or the Weather Bureau,” the media alert read.

Despite the desire for change, the website for the Bureau remains bom.gov.au and its app is still called “BOM Weather”.

The statement attracted criticism and ridicule almost immediately, with some of the weather bureau's own employees describing it on social media as a waste of resources and a self-inflicted PR disaster.

This led Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to call on the Bureau to reveal how much money had been spent on the name change.

The weather bureau says the total cost was $220,296 - including $118,177 for “brand strategy and design”, as well as $69,300 for “communication and implementation planning support”, and $32,819 for “implementation costs”.

Ms Plibersek says “Australians will make up their own minds about what they call” the Bureau of Meteorology.

“What matters is accurate and timely weather information for communities, particularly during severe weather like we're experiencing right now,” she added.

“That's where my focus is. People are hurting, lives are at risk.

“It's ridiculous for the BOM to be talking about rebranding.”