Australia conducts nationwide AusAlert emergency warning test

On 27 July 2026 Australia carried out a nationwide test of its new AusAlert emergency warning system. The cell‑broadcast alert was sent to compatible devices at 2 pm AEST (earlier in some states), causing phones to vibrate, emit a ten‑second siren‑like sound and display a clear test message.

The trial follows earlier community‑based tests in June and is intended to replace the older SMS‑based Emergency Alert system. AusAlert can target specific geographic areas and includes details such as the type of threat, location, severity, recommended actions and the issuing agency, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Recipients were advised that the alert required no action and could be ignored by switching devices off or using airplane mode. Concerns were raised about the alert overriding silent settings for people in domestic‑violence situations.

The test is part of preparations for the system’s full rollout later in 2026, aiming to provide a more reliable and efficient national emergency communications network.