Australia carried out its first nationwide test of AusAlert, a new emergency warning system due to launch in October to alert the public to fires, floods, terrorist incidents and health emergencies. Around 2pm AEST, phones, some smartwatches and tablets were meant to emit a loud alert tone alongside a "TEST MESSAGE" pop-up, but the experience varied widely: some people found it anti-climactic or barely audible, while others received no alert at all. The mixed results matter because AusAlert is intended to replace the current text-based system as a more reliable way of warning the public during disasters, so gaps in coverage raise questions ahead of its full rollout.

The government said 94% of targeted mobile towers successfully broadcast the alert, and prior estimates suggested around 80% of Apple iPhones and 16 million Android devices would sound. However, Guardian Australia received reports of various devices, including an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 12 and a Samsung phone, failing to receive a notification despite being switched on. Emergency management minister Kristy McBain said no communication method is ever 100% reliable, and that gaps could stem from being outside a coverage area, outdated software or incompatible devices, adding that AusAlert remains a valuable addition to existing emergency communication tools.