Australia will conduct a nationwide test of its new AusAlert emergency warning system on Monday, designed to deliver faster and more reliable alerts during life-threatening events like bushfires, floods, and cyclones.Compatible devices will receive a 10-second siren, vibration, and full-screen notification stating it's a test requiring no action.The test, scheduled for 2pm AEST in most regions and 1.30pm ACST in others, aims to identify system issues before real emergencies.AusAlert uses cell broadcast technology, which is more resilient than the current SMS-based system by not relying on a single tower.Authorities advise concealed phone users to switch devices to airplane mode or turn them off during the test to avoid safety risks.The system will complement existing warnings and be rolled out by states from October.

Emergency Management Minister Kirsty McBain emphasized the importance of ensuring alerts are not missed, with notifications overriding silent mode on compatible devices.