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Australia to Conduct National Test of New Emergency Alert System in July

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Australia to Test New National Emergency Warning System, AusAlert

Australia's federal government is set to test its new national emergency warning system, AusAlert, on July 27 at 2 pm AEST. The test will involve a 10-second alarm sounding simultaneously on approximately 25 million mobile phones within service range across the country.

This nationwide trial aims to validate the system's ability to deliver critical alerts to individuals during emergencies, marking a significant step in national disaster preparedness.

AusAlert: A New National Standard

AusAlert is designed to replace existing state-based emergency alert systems and is expected to be fully operational by October. It utilizes cell-broadcast technology, a one-to-many communication service that delivers geographically targeted alerts.

This advanced technology functions independently of network traffic volume and can reach any phone within range of a mobile tower, including those of residents and tourists. Crucially, it does so without collecting phone numbers or geographic locations, ensuring privacy.

Understanding Alert Levels and Usage

The system features two distinct levels of alerts to cater to varying emergency scenarios:

  • Critical warnings: These are issued for imminent threats to life, such as a cyclone. These alerts sound an alarm and display a message on the phone's home screen, and cannot be disabled.
  • Priority alerts: Issued when there is no immediate threat to life but advice is given for an approaching emergency, like a "watch and act" bushfire designation. Users can opt out of these alerts.

Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain emphasized the system's objective:

"AusAlert aims to be more reliable, accurate, and efficient, enabling authorities to quickly reach individuals during critical events to potentially save lives and property."

Development Journey and Global Context

The development of AusAlert cost the government $132 million. Its creation was a key recommendation of the royal commission into the 2019-20 Black Summer fires, which exposed limitations in existing state emergency warning systems, such as delayed message delivery.

Cell-broadcast technology is currently employed for emergency alerts in over 35 countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Germany, and France. While a UK test in September previously showed some reports of phones not being alerted or receiving garbled messages, Minister McBain expressed confidence in Australia's adoption of the technology.

Upcoming Tests and the National Message

Prior to the national test on July 27, smaller test alerts will be sent to nine specific locations in June. The national test message, set for next month, will read as follows:

"This is a TEST alert of AusAlert, Australia's new emergency warning system. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED. In an actual emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit www.ausalert.gov.au for more information. This message is authorised by the Australian Government."