Australian Government to Trial New Mobile Emergency Alert System

The Australian government will conduct a trial of the new national mobile emergency alert system on Monday (27/7) next week, ahead of its full launch in October, confirmed Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain on Wednesday (22/7). McBain told media in Melbourne that the AusAlert trial would proceed as planned on 27 July at 2:00 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), despite concerns from various states and territories about how the system will function alongside existing warning systems. She said the trial will assess the system’s performance, which will use cell-broadcast technology to send alerts directly to compatible mobile devices, and provide an opportunity for Australians to familiarise themselves with the alerts before the system officially launches from October. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Wednesday that governments in several states and territories have voiced concerns about whether AusAlert will be able to reach people using landline telephones, which are more common in remote areas, and whether the system will be compatible with existing local warning systems. McBain said the federal government will ensure the existing Emergency Alert system for landline telephones will remain operational alongside AusAlert during the upcoming severe weather season. AusAlert was developed following a recommendation from the 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, which identified the need for a more modern, reliable, and nationally consistent warning capability.