People with secret ‘safe phones’ advised to turn off devices during national test of AusAlert emergency warning
Summary
Australia will test a new emergency alert system called AusAlert on Monday at 2 pm AEST, which will send a loud siren and notification to most modern phones and some smart devices. People with hidden "safe phones" used for personal safety, such as domestic violence survivors, are advised to turn their devices off for up to 24 hours to avoid unwanted exposure.Key Facts
- The test will send an unsilenceable siren lasting 10 seconds to most phones, smartwatches, and tablets in Australia.
- AusAlert was created following recommendations from a royal commission into the 2019-2020 bushfires to improve national emergency warnings.
- The system is designed to be more reliable than the existing SMS-based alerts.
- AusAlert currently works on iPhones 11 and newer with iOS 16.4 or later, certain Apple Watches, and Android devices running Android 12 or later.
- Older phones, landlines, and satellite-connected devices may not receive alerts during this test.
- The government plans to add voice alerts for landlines and keep the old Emergency Alert system running alongside AusAlert during the high-risk weather season.
- The alert siren will sound even if phones are on silent or do not disturb mode.
- Family violence and safety groups have advised people with hidden “safe phones” to turn them off or use airplane mode for 24 hours after the test to avoid risk.
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