National Disaster Text Warning System Upgrade Delayed by Three Years

National Disaster Text Message Warning System Delayed by Three Years

The Australian government's plan to overhaul the national disaster text message warning system has been delayed by three years. The new system, originally promised to be operational by the end of 2023, is now not expected to be fully functional until 2027.

The proposed system aims to deliver messages to any device with a SIM card, targeting a location to within 160 meters, and overriding settings like "do not disturb" to ensure that messages are received. However, the government has acknowledged that the design of the system has been more complex than originally anticipated, leading to significant delays.

The government has faced criticism for the delay, with the Shadow Communications Minister describing it as "unacceptable" and accusing the government of "bungling" the project. The government has defended the delay, stating that the design of the system has been complex and involved significant negotiation with mobile network operators.

Despite the delay, the government has assured the public that the existing emergency alert system was used during the recent Tropical Cyclone Alfred and that 4.5 million alerts were received by people in the affected areas. However, the government has acknowledged the need for a more robust and reliable system, and is committed to completing the development of the new national messaging system.