STORM & FLOOD INSURANCE INQUIRY

This week the Parliamentary Inquiry into insurers’ responses to 2022 major floods claims 2022 will visit our region.

On Tuesday 7 May, a public hearing will be held in Molong at the Cabonne Community Centre.

On Wednesday 8 May, the Inquiry will set up in Eugowra at the Eugowra Bowling Club.

Independent Member for Calare, Andrew Gee, said there are still opportunities for storm and flood-affected businesses, residents and organisations from across the region to share their story at the public hearings.

“Communities like Eugowra, Molong, Canowindra, Cudal and Manildra were devastated by the storm and flood events of November 2022,” Mr Gee said.

“In many cases, the rebuilding and recovery process has been made much harder, and the tragedy much worse, by the cold-hearted and shocking response of insurers to policyholders.

“From long delays in claims processing, to widespread knockbacks, it’s taken a huge toll across our region. Sadly, stories of insurers trying to do the right thing are few and far between.

“This inquiry — which I called for and pushed the Government to get up and running — is an opportunity to tackle the massive power imbalance between policy holders and insurance companies, and to help bring some lasting change to this industry.

“There will be a Community Statements section at 1:45pm on Tuesday in Molong and 1:45 on Wednesday in Eugowra, when storm and flood-affected business people, residents and organisations can simply turn up and make a brief statement about their experience. It’s very quick, easy and hassle free.

“The Community Statements segment of the inquiry is a real chance to shine a spotlight on the experiences of our local residents, get to the bottom of what's happened here, and to make sure that the pain that insurance companies have inflicted on our communities is not repeated in the future,” said Mr Gee.

So far, there have been 15 public hearings held in Canberra and storm and flood-affected areas of Queensland and Victoria.

Storm and flood insurance experiences can also be shared by making a submission or by completing an online survey. This can be found at www.aph.gov.au/floodinsurance

ENDS

Media contact: Sinead Fogarty – 0417 852 386

Details:

Molong

Date: Tuesday 7th of May

Venue: Cabonne Community Centre

Start: 9 am

Community Panel: 12.45 pm

Community Statements: 1.45 pm

Eugowra

Date: Wednesday 8th of May

Venue: Eugowra Bowling Club

Start: 9 am

Community Panel: 12.45 pm

Community Statements: 1.45 pm