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The Australian Government takes the tsunami threat to Australia very seriously and has initiated steps to substantially enhance the Australian Tsunami Alert System (ATAS) which currently provides coverage for all coastal communities in Australia.
Following the tragic events of the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004, the Australian Government committed funding of $68.9 million over four years in the 2005-2006 Federal Budget to enhance the ATAS and establish the Australian Tsunami Warning System (ATWS).
Being implemented by Emergency Management Australia (EMA), Geoscience Australia (GA), and the Bureau of Meteorology (Bureau), the ATWS will be part of a planned network of national systems to form the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS), and add to the current capability of the Pacific Tsunami Warning System (PTWS) in the south-west Pacific.
EMA, GA and the Bureau have already made significant progress in implementing various elements of the ATWS such as the upgrade of each agency’s operations centre to address the tsunami risk.
From a community engagement perspective, EMA is working with States and Territories and relevant industry, education, volunteer and community sectors to enhance community preparedness through awareness raising, education and training. This will be achieved through a whole-of-government, all hazards approach to assessing current and future emergency management arrangements for communities.
To download a copy of the Tsunami Awareness brochure, click here.
Relevant links for more detailed tsunami information:
Australian Tsunami Warning System Implementation ExtraNet | 
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