Australia is set to conduct a nationwide test of the new emergency warning system, AusAlert next Monday.

Created in response to the 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, warning messages will inform Australians on natural hazards, security threats, biosecurity incidents, and health emergencies. During the test, compatible phones, some tablets and smartwatches will vibrate and play a 10-second siren-like sound, bypassing ‘silent’ and ‘do not disturb’ settings at 2pm AEST. 

Domestic violence experts are concerned the roll out has the potential to reveal locations of hidden ‘safe’ phones.