The head of the Bureau of Meteorology, Andrew Johnson, has rejected reports of looming job cuts for meteorologists as services become more centralised in Melbourne and Brisbane – a claim viewed sceptically by the main union representing staff.

Andrew Johnson told Senate estimates on Monday that an internal review aimed at increasing efficiency and tailoring services to better meet customer demand would not trigger staff losses.

"This notion that the bureau is cutting jobs, that the bureau is cutting costs, they're completely false," Dr Johnson said, adding that proposed changes are "in the early stages of the planning process".

Bureau of Meteorology chief Andrew Johnson says planned redeployment of meteorologists won't diminish its operational effectiveness. Credit:US National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service

Staff were roiled in August by an email from executives that implied the consolidation of all forecasting, warning services and even media in Melbourne, with Brisbane as a back-up location. Teams of consultants were to be left in the remaining regions.