Australia will conduct the first nationwide test of its new emergency alert system, AusAlert, on Monday, 27 July, with an emergency “siren” sounding at 2pm AEST for about ten seconds. Reporting from outlets notes that most mobile phones will receive the alert, including devices that are on silent mode or “do not disturb,” with the sound not being fully silenced. Some smartwatches and tablets are also expected to receive notifications and alert sounds. Several states and territories have raised reservations about the approach, but the federal government confirms the test will proceed. Domestic violence advocates and emergency management officials advise people who use hidden “safe phones” for personal safety to consider turning off those devices for up to 24 hours after the test, to avoid unintended alerts reaching abusers. The alerts are expected to be delivered across supported platforms, including newer iPhone and Android models running recent operating system versions, as well as selected Apple Watch models and compatible tablets. The test aims to validate the national system’s reach and alert delivery process.
Australia to run first AusAlert emergency warning test on Monday
Australia will conduct the first nationwide test of its new emergency alert system, AusAlert, on Monday, 27 July, with an emergency “siren” sounding at 2pm AEST for about ten seconds. Reporting from o...
- Australia conducts its first AusAlert nationwide emergency alert test on Monday, 27 July.
- The alert is scheduled for 2pm AEST and lasts about ten seconds.
- Most supported phones receive an alert sound that cannot be fully silenced, even on silent or “do not disturb.”
- Domestic violence advocates recommend people with hidden “safe phones” turn off those devices for up to 24 hours after the test.
- Some state governments express reservations, but the federal government confirms the test proceeds.
National emergency test alert will be sent to all mobile devices on 27 July, with domestic violence advocates advising how to turn off safe phonesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVirtually every phone in the country will blare an emergency siren at 2pm AEST on Monday 27 July, as part of the first Australia-wide test of a new national warning system called AusAlert.Most phones, and some smartwatches and tablets, will receive a pop-up notification and an alert sound that cannot be silenced – even if your device is on “do not disturb” or silent mode. Continue reading...
3 hours agoTen-second ‘siren’ to blare on most phones on Monday as part of national test despite reservations from some statesAn unsilenceable siren will blare out of most phones in Australia on Monday afternoon for ten seconds, with the federal government confirming a national test of the new AusAlert emergency alert will go ahead despite reservations from some state governments.Domestic violence campaigners and the National Emergency Management Agency have also repeated advice that people who may have secret ‘safe phones’, kept hidden for personal safety reasons, may want to turn off their devices for up to 24 hours after the test scheduled for 2pm (AEST) on Monday.iPhones 11 and up running iOS 26.4 or later;Apple Watch SE2, SE3, Series 6 and up running watchOS 26.4 or later;and Android devices running Android 12 or later. Continue reading...
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