News and politics recap: Kristy McBain says 94 per cent of towers successfully broadcast AusAlert

Millions of Australians will receive a loud emergency alert on their mobile phones on Monday as part of the first nationwide test of the Federal Government’s new AusAlert system.

At the scheduled time, compatible mobile devices across Australia will sound a loud emergency siren lasting about 10 seconds.

Rather than arriving as a text message, the alert will appear as a large notification directly on a phone’s home screen.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management of Australia, Kristy McBain, said the message will clearly state the alert is only a test and that no action is required.

“There will be a siren that sounds on the 27th for 10 seconds.”

“You’ll get a notification on your home screen. So it no longer will come through the text message app of your phone.”

“It will say, ‘this is a test, we are testing AusAlert, you do not need to take any further action’.”

Tanya Plibersek was forced to defend Anthony Albanese’s attendance at a fundraising dinner hosted at a luxury Point Piper mansion, insisting the Prime Minister could not reasonably be expected to know the background of every person connected to events he attends.

The Prime Minister has faced mounting scrutiny after attending the intimate fundraiser at the $40 million Sydney harbourside home of the son of a Chinese billionaire accused by the Australian Taxation Office of tax deception.

Appearing on Sunrise on Monday, Ms Plibersek rejected suggestions Mr Albanese had failed to explain his attendance, after he faced criticism over his initial response to questions about the event.

She said attending business and fundraising events was a routine part of the Prime Minister’s job and argued it was unrealistic to expect exhaustive background checks before every function.

“He’s the Prime Minister. He goes to dinners every night of the week just about, and he meets with people all the time. It is actually part of the job.”

Ms Plibersek also stressed the businessman at the centre of the controversy was not present at the dinner.

“The guy that you’re talking about wasn’t at the dinner. It was at his son’s place, not him.”

​Read more.​

Nationals senator Matt Canavan says the Anthony Albanese fundraiser controversy “stinks”, calling on Labor to return any donations linked to the family behind the luxury Point Piper event.

Senator Canavan said the controversy raised serious questions about the Prime Minister’s judgment, arguing Labor should reject or return any donation connected to the fundraiser.

“At the very least here, the Prime Minister needs to explain why he didn’t know these issues,” Senator Canavan said.

“Apparently, he said he didn’t know these issues. Well, it’s at least a very big failing of his office not to properly assess and do due diligence on the people he’s going to meet at someone’s house.”

Senator Canavan said handing back the money would be the quickest way to restore public confidence.

“What the Labor Party should clearly do here is just give back the money, or not take the donation. I’m not sure the status of it, but just don’t take it.”

“That would help restore integrity and respect in the Prime Minister’s office.”

He also questioned why Labor’s electoral funding reforms would not begin immediately if the Government believed the changes were necessary.

“If these laws that Tanya just spent minutes talking about are so good ... why don’t they come into effect now? Just don’t take this money.