The House Standing Committee on Economics will hold public hearings in Cairns and Townsville, Queensland, as part of its inquiry into insurers’ responses to 2022 major floods claims.
- Cairns RSL Club, Wednesday 24 July
- Townsville RSL Club, Thursday 25 July
Committee Chair Daniel Mulino MP said the Committee hoped to learn from northern communities’ claims experiences following recent disasters, including cyclones. “We are also interested in evidence of any improvements by the insurance industry since the Deloitte report on insurers’ responses to the 2022 floods and the related 2023 ASIC report on claims handling.”
Invitations have been issued to councils, business associations and community groups. Other organisations and individuals that wish to give evidence can email their interest to the Committee secretariat at floodinsurance.reps@aph.gov.au.
The Committee is interested in:
- the experiences of policyholders before, during and after making claims
- timeframes for resolving claims
- obstacles to resolving claims
- insurers’ communication with policyholders
- accessibility, affordability and quality of hydrology reports and other expert assessments
- affordability of insurance premiums
- claimants’ experiences of insurers’ dispute resolution processes.
Dr Mulino said it may not be possible to accommodate everyone interested in speaking, but those who miss out “can still make a public or confidential submission, and/or complete our online survey.”
More than 600 people have completed the inquiry’s survey about their experience with their insurer. The survey is open until 31 July and is available here.
Submissions can be uploaded through this online link or emailed to floodinsurance.reps@aph.gov.au until 31 July 2024.
Programs for the Queensland hearings will be posted on the inquiry website closer to the time. A live audio stream of the hearings will be available on the APH website.
The Committee’s final public hearing, to be held online in late July, will take evidence from expert and state government bodies.
The Committee will report its findings by 18 October 2024.
For further information contact the Committee secretariat on 02 6277 4707 or email floodinsurance.reps@aph.gov.au.
Media enquiries
Committee Chair
Dr Daniel Mulino MP
02 6277 4311
Daniel.Mulino.MP@aph.gov.au
For more information about the Economics Committee and its flood inquiry, visit its website, where you can read submissions and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can track the committee’s work and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button on the bottom right-hand side of the page.
