Australia launches nationwide AusAlert emergency alert test

On Monday at 2 p.m. AEST, the Australian government will conduct the first national test of its new AusAlert emergency‑warning system. A ten‑second, siren‑like tone will sound on compatible mobile phones, tablets and smartwatches across the country, displaying a non‑dismissable message that reads “THIS IS A TEST … NO ACTION IS REQUIRED”.

AusAlert uses cell‑broadcast technology that can reach up to 29 million devices instantly, bypassing traditional SMS networks. The system sends two types of alerts—priority (opt‑out possible) and critical (cannot be disabled). It was developed after the 2020 Royal Commission into natural‑disaster arrangements and aims to avoid past issues such as the Black Summer bushfires and a July 2023 Telstra outage. Officials including NEMA assistant coordinator Meghan Hibbert and Emergency Management Minister Kirsty McBain said the service will become fully operational in October and will be usable for natural hazards, public‑safety threats, biosecurity incidents and health emergencies.