Key facts
- Australia will test its new nationwide emergency alert system, AusAlert, on Monday, April 27, at 2 PM AEST.
- The test will send a loud siren and a pop-up notification to most mobile phones, smartwatches, and tablets.
- The alert message will state "TEST MESSAGE" and "NO ACTION IS REQUIRED".
- The system aims to provide more timely and reliable emergency warnings than the current SMS-based system.
- The test is a recommendation from the royal commission into the 2019-20 bushfires.
- Special safety advice has been issued for individuals with hidden 'safe phones' due to domestic violence concerns.
Australia is set to conduct the first nationwide test of its new emergency alert system, AusAlert, on Monday, April 27, at 2 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). The test will involve a loud siren and a pop-up notification on most mobile phones, smartwatches, and tablets across the country, even if devices are on silent or 'do not disturb' mode. The alert message will clearly state "TEST MESSAGE" and "NO ACTION IS REQUIRED".
AusAlert is designed to replace the current SMS-based emergency notification system, which has been criticized for its latency and unreliability during major disasters due to network congestion. The new system utilizes a mass broadcast via mobile phone towers, aiming to deliver alerts more promptly and effectively. The initiative stems from a recommendation by the royal commission that investigated the devastating 2019-20 "black summer" bushfires.
Authorities have engaged with various stakeholders, including schools and businesses, to inform them about the upcoming test. However, concerns have been raised by domestic and family violence advocates regarding the potential for the alert to expose hidden 'safe phones' used by individuals seeking safety. Nema has advised that devices switched off or in airplane mode will not receive the alert, recommending this measure for 'safe phones' during the test period, and suggesting a 24-hour period of device deactivation for those with specific safety concerns.
Phones manufactured after 2019 are generally expected to receive the alert, with approximately 80% of compatible iPhones and 16 million Android devices anticipated to participate. The AusAlert system is intended for use in legitimate emergencies such as bushfires, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, terrorism threats, and public health crises, supplementing existing state and territory warning systems.