Albanese Concedes National Emergency Alerts System Not Ready for Cyclone Alfred

Announced in May 2023, the NMS aims to improve emergency communication with real-time mobile alerts. It was expected to be operational by the end of 2024.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a Cabinet meeting Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 24, 2025. AAP Image/James Ross

As Australia battles Cyclone Alfred, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has admitted that the National Messaging System (NMS), designed to replace existing state-led text message warnings, was not made operational in time due to its complex nature.

“I prefer it was ready, but it’s been complex to deliver,” Albanese told reporters in Canberra on March 6.