Australia's First Nationwide AusAlert Test: Mixed Results and High Tower Success
Australia conducted its first nationwide test of the new AusAlert emergency warning system on Monday, 27 July, with officials declaring the exercise a success even as reports emerged of many people not receiving the alert. The test, which took place at 2pm AEST, involved sending a siren and pop-up notification to most mobile phones, as well as some smartwatches and tablets, across the country.
What is AusAlert?
AusAlert is Australia's new national warning system, which will send emergency messages to mobile devices during local and widespread disasters. Authorities currently use SMS texts to alert people about safety information. The new system will instead send a mass broadcast via mobile phone towers, with an alert popping up on devices, similar to a phone notification, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema). It will launch nationally in October.
The Test
The test alert was sent to all mobile devices in Australia at 2pm AEST on Monday 27 July. Most phones, and some smartwatches and tablets, received a pop-up notification and an alert sound that could not be silenced, even if the device was on "do not disturb" or silent mode. The siren lasted about 10 seconds and was described by Pat Hetherington, interim coordinator general at Nema, as "loud enough to get people's attention" but quieter than a fire alarm.
"What people should expect to hear is a siren that will last for about 10 seconds," Hetherington said. "It will be noticeable, but it won't be too over the top."
Mixed Reception
While the federal government hailed the test as a success, reports from the public indicated mixed experiences. Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said 94 per cent of "targeted cell towers" successfully broadcast the AusAlert test messages across the country. This exceeded the National Emergency Management Agency's target of 90 per cent, she said, adding that the 6 per cent of towers that missed the alert were either offline for maintenance, being upgraded, or otherwise unusable.
However, many individuals reported not receiving the alert at all. Some mobile users received a notification but no sound, while others on compatible devices, including an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 12, and a Samsung phone, reported not receiving any notification. The ABC received more than 1,000 comments reporting both successes and issues, with some describing delays of 10 to 15 minutes or only one out of three people at a university receiving the message.
Reasons for Missed Alerts
According to reports, some people did not receive the alert due to device incompatibility or lack of coverage. Prior to the test, Nema had advised that approximately 80% of Apple iPhones would ring, as well as 16 million Android devices. The alert would go to iPhone models 11 and up running iOS 26.4 or later, Apple Watch models SE2, SE3, Series 6 and up running watchOS 26.4 or later, and Android devices running Android 12 or later.
Nema also warned that users might not receive a test alert if their device is older, incompatible with the new system, or has not been updated. A lack of mobile signal or a problem with the nearest mobile tower could also prevent reception.
Official Response
Despite the mixed reports, Minister McBain declared the test "very successful." "So the benchmark that the National Emergency Management Agency set was for 90 per cent of towers; we've reached nearly 94 per cent of towers across the country," she said. "We've now had a successful trial and we'll continue to refine the technology in Australia and work with states and territories to make sure it is available for use for them from October onwards."
The federal government had spent the past week informing the public about the test. The alert message included the text "TEST MESSAGE" and "NO ACTION IS REQUIRED."