An emergency alert will sound on July 27. Why some women are being warned to switch off their phones

On 27 July 2026, a loud alarm will blare from every mobile phone in Australia. It’s part of testing for the new AusAlert system, which will inform people about emergencies in their area, including natural disasters, public safety threats and bio-security incidents. But there are concerns the alert could put victim-survivors of family and domestic violence with hidden phones at risk. Listen now as experts explain the ways to stop the alert sounding during the test.