Australia tests national emergency alert system

newsJul 27, 202630815

Australia carried out the first nationwide test of AusAlert, the federal government’s new national emergency warning system, sending a simultaneous test notification to millions of smartphones, plus some tablets and smartwatches. Devices vibrated and played a siren-like warning tone for about 10 seconds, and the test was sent at a critical alert level so it could sound even if phones were on silent or Do Not Disturb. Some older or unupdated devices, users without mobile signal, or devices near a malfunctioning tower did not receive the test; some users reported the alert header showed "Presidential Alert" or "Extreme Threat Alert" on certain operating systems. AusAlert will replace the existing SMS-based Emergency Alert over time, can target devices as precisely as within 160 metres of an emergency, and was created in response to the 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. Authorities warned devices may "behave differently" during testing, advised keeping a phone turned off for 24 hours if you deliberately powered it down to avoid the test, and flagged concerns about risks to people relying on concealed "safe phones" in family and domestic violence situations. The government plans to launch AusAlert in October and anticipates using it for bushfires, floods, cyclones, biosecurity outbreaks, health emergencies, and public safety threats including terrorism.

Pup Fiction

@pupfiction.bsky.social

How they did emergency alerts in Australia before mobile phones

30445d ago

Stevie Rae Williams🍷🐈‍⬛29

What’s that Skip? The ALP has morphed into the LNP & the LNP has morphed into ON & ON has morphed into Barnaby Joyce’s alcohol support program?…

Wolfie Rankin22

That's the sound we need, the old gum leaf whistle.

Simon Rosenberg13

'What's that Skip? The self-proclaimed next prime minister has just been confirmed by the Federal Court as a legally adjudicated racist?'

simongarlick6

now I'm singing the theme tune, damn your eyes

Bronwyn Clark3

Thank you. I needed this laugh 💜

Muz3

Skippy was the original McGyver

Quoting this

Youngman Grand3

"What's that Skippy? There's a child trapped at the bottom of a ravine and we'll need 250m of rope, a winch and three strong men?"

Fraser

@condimentwords.bsky.social

Just confirmed with a government spokesperson that if you didn’t receive an Emergency Alert on your phone today, it means you don’t matter and no one would miss you in a disaster

15645d ago

Mickey Blue1

seems they miss me so much the almost gave me a heart attack by waking me from my afternoon siesta.

Kimmylea1

I mentioned in my Teams chat that the way it pronounced AusAlert was funny, like "orzalert" with no break in the middle, and that's how I found out I was the only person in my work team who had my phone read the text out to me

Andy Paterson1

Or, if you're like a friend of mine, who never downloads his IOS updates, because he hates any changes to his phones format, that'll do it.

Quoting this

Tom Studans27

Just double-checked with my sources and I can confirm this is accurate 👇

moby dickgirl

@eigenvectrix.myatproto.social

A number of different people reporting that the test messages they received today from AusAlert, Australia's new emergency broadcast system, had "Presidential alert" at the top. To be clear, Australia does not have a president

7345d ago

moby dickgirl31

Now I'm wondering if this is some esoteric backroom deal we struck where we spend way more than we have to on the technology behind the US Emergency Alert System in order to slob Donald Trump's stubby and unwashed little knob just that bit harder

GenderQueeries 🇨🇦4

Fwiw, you use a variation of the Common Alerting Protocol and cell companies don't gaf and just use US alert software, where presidential alert is coded in as the highest alert level. And your regulators care even less about ensuring this is done right. Greetings from the equally mediocre Canada.

ourotheboros.bsky.social4

maybe it's like a tornado watch/warning type deal

Shaun4

I assumed it was just copy pasted US tech, yeah

Feena van3

What did they use AI?

phoebe headkittens2

yeah, my custom rom phone got presidential bsky.app/profile/head...

Quoting this

Cav(R), Gentleman Rogue7

*Straightens tie* Not yet, mate. Not yet.

Kay Orchison

@kayorchison.bsky.social

National emergency alert system test just now, every device in the house sounding an alarm at once, cats basically levitating To anyone in an abusive situation, if your secret phone has been found, don't wait, seek help now Call 000 if you are in immediate danger or 1800 737 732 if expecting it

2045d ago

Dr Monique Ryan

@mon4kooyong.bsky.social

Today at 2pm, the govt will test AusAlert, Australia's new national emergency warning system. A loud siren alert will be sent to all mobile devices in 🇦🇺 including most phones and some tablets and smartwatches at 2pm (AEST). Putting your device on silent or Do Not Disturb will not stop the alert.

1945d ago

Dr Monique Ryan13

If you have a hidden or safety phone: At least one hour before 2pm today, turn your device off or switch it to aeroplane mode. Leave it off or in aeroplane mode for at least one hour after the test to be safe. If possible, keep the device out of earshot before turning it back on.

Quoting this

Sharty Mcscrote (Sandy D AU) 🍉🍉3

With Albo in charge we sure as hell are going to need all the warning sirens possible,cos he is one useless motherfucker #WeAllGonnaBurn #AlboTheBeigeAlbatross #auspol

MsPraxis

@mspraxis.bsky.social

My son rang my dorrbell at pretty much the same time so I had doorbell and 2 phones go off 😂 #NationalAlert

2645d ago

Trish 💟 ☮️ Australia3

There were four of us here, three got the alert and one didn’t. On further inspection, he had alerts turned off 🤷‍♀️ I thought it was going to alert even phones that are turned off!

21linac.bsky.social2

My husband is still waiting to hear it! Only one in our family who didn’t get it 🤷🏻‍♀️

André Brett

@drdrehistorian.bsky.social

Looks like the reason I didn't get it is because I use an iOS older than 26.4 Seems suboptimal to assume everyone is running the most recent OS when designing a national alert system (I even visited the website before today and hadn't noticed this page! they didn't make an effort to highlight it)

1845d ago

Dr Kathleen Neal5

Just a moment while I get this snark out of my system:. How unlike an Australian government initiative to be poorly conceived and executed 🙄

Alex1

Thank you. That explains why I didn’t get it either

Ginger Beef 🫚

@itsgingerbeef.bsky.social

Learning just how many of my moots are indeed aussie by the way they all seem very bewildered by the emergency alert on their phones today haha

2145d ago

deer

@boneccrone.bsky.social

Deer is marked as safe from the National Emergency Alert

2045d ago

🔞Abby Smuttysquid ACAB BLM 🍉[COMMS OPEN]

@smuttysquid.bsky.social

they just tested the emergency alert notification in aus and i jumped outta my gotdamn skin

1945d ago

Josh W

@mariobones.bsky.social

“There was a horrible screeching coming from my phone just now!” “Oh, from the emergency alert?” “No, I got a call from my freaking ex-wife!”

1745d ago

Zander Hulme ~♪

@zander.supertonic.au

I recorded the national alert, but I assume it would be illegal to actually put the recording into any projects (it's illegal to use cyclone warning alarms and similar stuff in broadcast media, so maybe this too?) But what if I turned it into a horrible synth lead anyway?

1745d ago

Dan Vogt✨1

Sandstorm but with the alert tone 🤮

Fiona Tribe

@fionatribe.bsky.social

Even though I knew that emergency alert test was coming, my anxiety levels spiked and I now need a cup of tea and a lay down.

1745d ago

Yllek

@yllekaj.bsky.social

Aeroplane mode worked 😁 All the ones around the house went off but mine stayed silent. My son came out laughing. Did anybody else's say:" Presidential alert?"😆 #auspol #NationalAlert

1445d ago

DifficultNes1

My phone said 'critical alert' but Mum's said 'presidential alert'. I wondered if that was a network thing

Kipster

@kipstergull.bsky.social

Caller on radio complaining she didn't get the emergency alert. The she declares she doesn't have a mobile phone. Fuck me. These people vote.

845d ago

3 sources

abc.net.auHear that siren? That was the first test of a national emergency alert theage.com.auCat reacts to emergency alert smh.com.auCat reacts to emergency alert

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Australia tests national emergency alert system

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