What to expect when phones blast out national siren
Australia’s new emergency warning system is set for its first trial, with the government saying the move will help cut reliance on telcos.
A nationwide test of a new emergency warning system is set to go ahead with a 10-second siren to sound all on phones across the nation.
The AusAlert national emergency alert system is due to replace the current national warning system from October 2026, aiming to provide alerts for bushfires, floods and other natural disasters.
Mobile phones around the nation will blast out a 10-second siren at 2pm AEST on Monday as part of a nationwide test of Australia’s new emergency warning system.
The test will be classed as a “critical alert”, meaning devices will vibrate or make the sound even if they are in silent or do not disturb modes.
The new system will aim to provide alerts for bushfires, floods and other natural disasters. Photo: AAP
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Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain described the technology as a “more modern, more capable system that will deliver emergency alerts to more people in a more timely manner than the existing text-based emergency alert system”.
The AusAlert system was created following the 2020 Royal Commission into Natural Disaster Management to patch gaps in existing state-based emergency alerts.
“This is simply a test,” McBain told reporters on Sunday.
“In an actual event, an AusAlert will tell you what the type of emergency is, where it’s located, and how serious it is.
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“It will also tell you the name of the emergency organisation that has sent it, and where to find more information in the case of that emergency.”
Kristy McBain says the system will deliver emergency alerts to more people in a more timely manner. Photo: AAP
McBain emphasied the system would work alongside existing warning channels such as websites, radio, social media, television, and community outreach .
“This is another tool in the toolkit for emergency service organisations,” she said.
While it is designed to operate as a standalone national system, some states and territories will continue to use their own alerts when AusAlert comes into effect in October.
Some jurisdictions have raised concerns, including how those reliant on landlines and non-English speaking households will be protected.
Others say domestic violence victim-survivors may be more isolated from friends and family with the warning system severing a vital link to support networks, as some keep a hidden mobile device for their safety.
—with AAP
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