In a move that will surely delight anyone who's ever hidden a second phone from their partner, Australia's national emergency alert system is getting an upgrade. The system update aims to deliver warnings 'in a more timely manner,' which is great news for everyone except the vulnerable women and children who have been advised to turn off their concealed phones during the test next week. Because nothing says 'safety first' like asking people in dangerous situations to disable their lifeline for a drill.

Meanwhile, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has waded into the murky waters of political soul-searching, admitting that his state's Labor party is 'under threat' from One Nation. Appearing on ABC Radio National, Minns was asked if One Nation is a 'racist party.' His response was a masterclass in diplomatic tightrope-walking: people who worry about immigration aren't necessarily racist, but some of Pauline Hanson's comments definitely are. 'When she said there's no such thing as a good Muslim,' Minns elaborated, 'I mean, how else do you characterise that?' He then urged Labor to 'fight for those votes' by making 'practical commonsense changes to policy.'

In other news, the Do Not Call Register is getting a workout: the government has reminded everyone that when people unsubscribe from marketing messages, they mean it - especially regarding gambling. Because apparently, TAB's compliance systems have 'serious weaknesses,' leading to breaches that cause 'financial loss and psychological harm.' Who knew that ignoring someone's explicit request not to be contacted could have negative consequences?