An update today on the nationwide AusAlert warning system test due to occur next week (Monday at 2pm AEST) included critical information for victim survivors of domestic and family violence who may keep a concealed phone.
Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain (pictured above) told media that the new alerts process is being tested to ensure more people receive emergency alerts in a more timely manner than the existing text-based emergency alert system provides.
She invited Karen Bentley, CEO of Women’s Services Network (Wesnet), to address the same press conference to share concerns for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence who may have hidden phones as part of their safety plan.
“Wesnet’s recommendation is that on Monday, if you do have a concealed or hidden phone, to support your safety, that you consider turning that device off or switching it to airplane mode, one hour before the national test on Monday, and to keep it off or on airplane mode for 24 hours,” she said.
“Once the national emergency alert system is officially in place from October, people using hidden phones, as part of a safety plan, will need to make their own decision about the risks of having their phones on, on a permanent basis or whether it’s safer for them to keep their hidden phones off when they’re not in use.”
McBain said the emergency system was developed in response to the 2020 Royal Commission into national natural disaster arrangements, where the need for a more reliable, modern and nationally consistent public warning capability was identified.
She said the cell broadcast technology that’s being successfully used in 35 other countries is the technology that can provide that more reliable system.
“The national test is a significant project milestone,” she said.
“The national test will assess system-wide performance, checking that the system can broadcast at scale to compatible devices in near real time without network congestion.”
More information is available at Staying Safe With AusAlert