TSUNAMI EXERCISE TESTS AUSTRALIA’S WARNING SYSTEM
19 June 2009
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today delivered the findings of ‘Exercise Ausnami’, a comprehensive test of the Australian Tsunami Warning System (ATWS).
The aim of the national exercise was to allow the Government to test the effectiveness of the Australian Tsunami Warning System’s communications for delivering and managing tsunami warnings for Australia.
‘Exercise Ausnami’ was conducted on 15 and 16 June 2009 and simulated a magnitude 9.0 earthquake in the Pacific affecting the east coast of Australia and a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off Indonesia, affecting Western Australia, South Australia and relevant off-shore islands.
The test reaffirmed that in the event of a tsunami, the Australian Government is ready to protect the Australian community.
The test confirmed:
- the capability of the system to detect and verify tsunami threats from earthquakes;
- that warnings could be issued within thirty minutes of an undersea earthquake; and
- the timely provision of information to affected jurisdictions and relevant Government agencies.
The capability of the States to provide timely warnings to potentially affected coastal communities is also important. That capacity will be significantly enhanced by work being undertaken by the States to develop a national telephony based emergency warning system.
The Federal Government is contributing $27 million to this project, including $11.3 million to build a secure database of phone numbers for the system to use and conduct research into mobile location-based warnings.
‘Exercise Ausnami’ involved Geoscience Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology, the Attorney-Generals Department and State and Territory emergency management agencies from Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.
The ATWS is provided through the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre which operates 24-hours a day, seven days a week to detect and verify tsunami threats to Australia as a result of earthquakes.
The ATWS provides a comprehensive warning system capable of delivering timely and effective tsunami warnings to affected populations. It also supports international efforts to establish an Indian Ocean tsunami warning system, and contributes to the facilitation of tsunami warnings for the South-West Pacific.
Similar tests of the ATWS will continue on a regular basis in the future. In addition, Australia will also take part in Pacific and Indian Ocean tsunami exercises with our international counterparts.
Media Contact: Adam Siddique 0407 473 630
