Australia's new national emergency warning system, AusAlert, will undergo its first nationwide test on Monday, July 27, 2026, at 2pm AEST. Virtually every mobile phone, along with some smartwatches and tablets, will emit a 10-second siren and display a pop-up notification that cannot be silenced, even if the device is on silent or do-not-disturb mode.
What is AusAlert?
AusAlert is a new national warning system designed to send emergency messages to mobile devices during local and widespread disasters, including bushfires, floods, terrorist incidents, and health emergencies. Unlike current SMS-based alerts, AusAlert uses a mass broadcast via mobile phone towers, similar to a phone notification. The system will officially launch nationally in October 2026, following the test.
The test originates from a recommendation by the royal commission into the 2019-20 black summer bushfires, which called for a nationally consistent warning system. Pat Hetherington, interim coordinator general at the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema), explained that the existing SMS system experienced latency and network congestion, with messages sometimes not arriving at all, depending on the provider.
What will happen during the test?
According to Nema, users will hear a siren lasting about 10 seconds and see a pop-up notification with text including “TEST MESSAGE” and “NO ACTION IS REQUIRED”. Hetherington described the siren as “loud enough to get people’s attention” but quieter than a fire alarm. The test occurs at 2pm AEST, which corresponds to 2pm in New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT, Queensland, and Tasmania; 1:30pm in the Northern Territory and South Australia; and 12pm in Western Australia.
Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain, whose electorate of Eden-Monaro was affected by the black summer bushfires, noted that some residents did not receive emergency text alerts during that disaster due to unavailable phone providers. She called AusAlert a “far superior” system that will reach more people in a timely manner, while existing state systems will remain in use as additional tools.
Which devices will receive the alert?
Phones made after 2019 should receive the alert, but older models may not. Nema advises that about 80% of Apple iPhones (iPhone 11 and up running iOS 26.4 or later) and some 16 million Android devices (running Android 12 or later) will ring. Apple Watch models SE2, SE3, and Series 6 and up running watchOS 26.4 or later will also receive alerts. Apple iPads will not. The only way to avoid the alert is to turn off the device or switch to airplane mode.
Concerns for domestic violence survivors
Domestic and family violence advocates have raised concerns about the alert potentially exposing “safe phones” – devices kept hidden by those experiencing violence. Nema has engaged with family violence experts and posted a safety guide on its website. Hetherington advised that phones switched off or on airplane mode for a 24-hour period will not receive the alert. Carroll added that for domestic violence situations, broader advice recommends keeping the device off for an extended period. Groups such as the Women’s Safety Commissioner, DV Connect, and the Council of Single Mothers and their Children have issued safety advisories.
What should the public do?
No action is required during the test. However, Nema encourages Australians to provide feedback through a survey to help assess the trial. Hetherington emphasized, “People should read the message. But it is a test that doesn’t require people to do anything.”
Once operational, AusAlert will be used for bushfires, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, terrorism, biosecurity incidents, and major public health incidents. States and territories will have the ability to send alerts. Hetherington expects some states to use the system frequently for real-time information dissemination.
