Federal Member for Bowman, Henry Pike, has welcomed Monday’s national AusAlert emergency warning system test, but says the rollout comes far too late, highlighting that the system was not operational during Tropical Cyclone Alfred when the Redlands urgently needed it.
Mr Pike said a nationally consistent, reliable warning system is critical for protecting communities like the Redlands, which face frequent severe weather events.
“Any system that improves emergency communication is a step in the right direction, but the reality is this should have been delivered years ago,” Mr Pike said.
“When Cyclone Alfred hit, families were dealing with damaged homes, power outages, and communication failures, yet the very system designed to provide clear, national warnings simply wasn’t there.”
Mr Pike said the absence of a functioning national alert system during Cyclone Alfred was a clear failure in disaster preparedness and stated the lack of coordination contributed to confusion at a time when clarity was critical.
“We were told this system would be ready by 2024. It wasn’t,” he said.
“Instead of having a modern, unified warning system during a major disaster, communities were left relying on fragmented and inconsistent messaging.”
“We had emergency messages being sent during the Alfred emergency hours before they were relevant because we couldn’t rely on the existing system to deliver them when they were needed.”
“In an emergency, minutes matter. Clear, timely communication can save lives, but during Alfred, that communication just didn’t exist.”
Mr Pike said the test is a positive step forward, but it also underscores how long communities have been waiting.
“The AusAlert test shows progress, but it also highlights a missed opportunity,” he said.
“If this system had been in place during Cyclone Alfred, it could have made a real difference for people trying to make decisions in rapidly changing conditions.”
He also raised concerns about delays and cost increases in delivering the system.
“Communities deserve to know why a system so critical to public safety has taken so long to roll out.”
Mr Pike stressed that the focus must now be on ensuring AusAlert is fully operational and trusted by the public by the due date of the 1st of October 2026.
“It’s not just about having the technology, it’s about making sure people understand it, trust it, and know how to respond when an alert comes through,” he said.
“We cannot afford further delays. This system must be delivered properly, integrated with emergency services, and ready to perform when the next disaster strikes.”
Mr Pike said Cyclone Alfred should serve as a lasting reminder of why timely delivery of critical infrastructure matters.
“Too often, it takes a disaster to expose what’s missing,” he said.
“The real failure is when those lessons aren’t acted on quickly enough.”
“Finally getting the AusAlert system operational is welcome, but for communities like the Redlands, it comes after the moment it was needed most.”