Emergency message service not ready to meet cyclone

Anthony Albanese says implementation of an emergency alert system had not been launched before this week’s cyclone because the project was ‘complex to deliver’.

Anthony Albanese and National Emergency Management Agency deputy co-ordinator-general Joe Buffone in the National Situation Room in Canberra on Thursday. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

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Anthony Albanese says the implementation of an emergency alert system that sends messages to people in the pathway of natural disasters had not been launched before a cyclone lashes Brisbane because the project was “complex to deliver”.

As Cyclone Alfred tracks closer to southeast Queensland and northern NSW, the Prime Minister has defended his government against Coalition criticism that it had failed to deliver the disaster warning system by the end of last year as planned.

The National Messaging System would allow authorities to send real-time messages to people about natural disasters and the course of action they need to take by overriding phone systems no matter the mobile carrier.

Mr Albanese said he would “prefer” the system had been ready ahead of the category-2 storm expected to hit the east coast between Noosa and Coolangatta by Saturday, but the current text-based technology was “always going to be the primary messaging system for the high-risk weather season”.

“It’s been complex to deliver,” Mr Albanese said on Thursday.

“You want to make sure, you have to be 100 per cent sure that it’s ready to go before you turn it online. The current emergency alert system is the one that’s been in place for some period of time.

“That remains effective and it is the primary messaging system for the high-risk weather season.”

Opposition communications spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh said Labor’s failure to deliver the NMS to schedule proved the initiative was not a “priority and demonstrates the absolute lack of action to get this vital service running for those in need”.

“The Prime Minister said the NMS has been complex to deliver,” Ms McIntosh said.

“If so, why did his ministers announce in 2023 the project would be done by 2024? The ministers responsible should have come clean and told the public the project is heavily delayed.

“Around four million Australians could be in harm’s way with tropical Cyclone Alfred, yet they won’t have the NMS to assist in providing them with the most up-to-date messaging service information in this time of need.”

Communications Minister ­Michelle Rowland and then emergency minister Murray Watt in May 2023 said the NMS would be completed by the end of last year.

Opposition emergency management spokeswoman Perin Davey said people should stay across disaster updates by monitoring the SES website and following official advice.