Flood victims receive $6 million in compensation from insurance companies following complaints

The AFCA's lead ombudsman for insurance, Emma Curtis, acknowledged that the scale of natural disasters in Australia, combined with shortages of labor and materials, have caused delays in insurers assessing claims and completing repair work. She emphasized the importance of insurers promptly assessing claims, informing customers about expected time frames, and clearly communicating about claims options.

Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh also commented on the issue, noting that there has been a substantial increase in insurance policy premiums for postcodes threatened by floods since the 2022-23 Victorian and New South Wales flood crisis. He highlighted the need for healthy competition among insurance companies to keep prices reasonable in flood-prone areas.

In response, a spokesperson for the Victorian government stated that they are working with the Commonwealth government and the Insurance Council of Australia to explore ways to make insurance more affordable and accessible to residents of Victoria.

Published:Friday, 27th Jan 2023
Source: financialservicesonline.com.au

Share this news item:

Insurance News

AFCA Criticizes Insurance Industry Over Delayed Dispute Resolution 20 Mar 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has expressed its deep concern on the rising complaint numbers and poor industry response, leading to significant dispute resolution delays. The CEO and Chief Ombudsman, David Locke, warned that complaint numbers could reach 100,000 in the current financial year, an increase from 72,358 in the previous year. The surge in complaint numbers resulted from natural catastrophes, complaints about claims handling and an increase in banking sector-related scams. - read more

The Importance of Weather-Related Insurance Coverage for Australian Homeowners 20 Mar 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au As the weather in southern Australia continues to be a hot topic, homeowners are reminded of the importance of reviewing their insurance coverage. With bushfire warnings being issued due to extreme heat and wind, it's crucial to ensure that your insurance coverage includes weather-related risks. - read more

Cyber Liability Insurance: A Must-Have for SMEs in the Digital Age. 16 Mar 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Australia should take cyber liability insurance more seriously, according to Jane Mason, head of product, channels and risk at insurance brokerage and consultancy BizCover. Cybercrime incidents in Australia are on the rise, occurring every seven minutes on average during FY22, one minute faster than the previous year. - read more

Life insurance industry hit hard by $6.6 billion investment losses 10 Mar 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released its latest industry update, revealing a significant slump in net profit after tax for the life industry in Australia. The industry suffered a 59.3% decrease in net profit after tax to $500 million for the year ending December, primarily due to investment losses of approximately $6.6 billion. - read more

Strengthening Cyber Security: A Fundamental Priority for Australia 07 Mar 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au The Australian Government is currently soliciting feedback until mid-April for the creation of a 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy. The move comes after a roundtable discussion led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who aims to make Australia “the most cyber secure nation.” - read more