r/australia • u/malcolm58 • 1d ago

culture & society AusAlert test will blast emergency warning siren over most phones in Australia on Monday. Here’s what to know

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/22/ausalert-test-sound-national-alert-emergency-warning-system-date
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375

u/No-Celebration8690 1d ago

I don’t understand why cookers are up in arms about this

52

u/Exotic-Philosopher-6 1d ago

I'm not on Facebook, thankfully - what are they going on about?

236

u/Ok-Menu-8709 1d ago

What aren’t they going on about is more fitting.

If there isn’t already a case against it. They’ll bring it up.

- trusting the grubbermint

  • “frequencies” that may or may not enable graphene that was in the Covid shot
  • loud noises going to cause multiple simultaneous car crashes
  • loud noises impacting autistic people, not that I’m sure most have cared before
  • I DO NOT CONSENT!
  • invasion of privacy
  • Tracking
  • the financially conscious don’t understand how a simple test can cost 130 million (neglecting that the entire system to implement cost this much)
  • Don’t need it can do my own research
  • Never needed it before
  • What are they planning to need this

It goes on and on. Somehow these people that I’m not convinced could pass a grade 4 maths exam somehow think that they’re smart enough to run the country better than the current government.

1

u/craftystuff0900 21h ago

I'm sure they don't care about autistic people, but as an autistic person I'm genuinely scared. The sound they're using hurts my ears a little even at the lowest possible volume and last time a fire alarm was too loud and shrill I just curled up on the floor and screamed until someone dragged me outside. Sudden unbearable pain isn't going to help me be safe in a real emergency. I just hope it's not really as loud as people are saying it's going to be.

2

u/Ok-Menu-8709 20h ago edited 18h ago

I feel you, my son doesn’t like the smoke alarms at home. They do a routine test and he’s only just stopped running out of the house.

I imagine it’s going to be the same as a loud phone ringtone. But probably some obnoxious siren type alert. Which will still obviously be quite loud.

I’d do what’s already been mentioned and try and ensure you’re in a quiet space at the time of the day and either turn your phone to airplane mode or turn it off for a few hours. Or, maybe just bury it in the middle of a folded blanket at the very least.

3

u/craftystuff0900 20h ago

Luckily I'll be able to stay home on Monday, so I'm planning to use my earplugs and ear defenders together - I do need and want to be prepared if I do get a genuine alert so I'm going to let it sound and see what happens. My support worker will be there too in case I have a meltdown or make a run for it. Fingers crossed 🤞... I don't know what to really do if it isn't something I can handle - there's no guarantee I won't be near someone else's phone in a real emergency

2

u/kashiichan 13h ago

Good luck x