Emergency phone siren could reveal secret phones kept hidden for safety

On 27 July 2026 at 2pm AEST, Australia's first nationwide emergency test — called AusAlert — will make compatible phones blast a 10-second siren. It'll sound even if your phone is on silent. Safety agencies and domestic violence advocates warn this could expose hidden phones kept by people fleeing abuse. Their advice: turn any secret phone off for up to 24 hours.