Insurance claims from ex-Cyclone Alfred flood in

More than 22,000 insurance claims related to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and associated flooding across southeast Queensland and NSW have been lodged in the past week.

Gold Coasters are waking up to see what damage TC Alfred has caused. A fallen tree lands close to a house on Hedges Avenu, Miami. Pics Adam Head

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More than 22,000 insurance claims related to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and associated flooding across southeast Queensland and NSW have been lodged in the past week.

Property holders have lodged 20,460 home-related claims with their insurers since the wind and rain associated with storm system began to affect the coast last Wednesday. A further 1182 motor vehicle and 758 commercial prop-erty-related insurance jobs have been made.

Almost 92 per cent of claims received were from policyholders in Queensland. Insurance Council of Australia chief executive Andrew Hall said there was a spike in claims on Tuesday as the community moved from cyclone response to recovery.

“Claim numbers are rising daily with people assessing the damage to their properties and businesses,” he said. “Insurers are committed to prioritising claims made by customers affected by this ongoing weather event.

“Today’s spike in claims was very much expected and in line with this stage in the recovery process as people start the clean-up process and get back to their homes to assess the damage.”

The ICA said it was still too early estimate the damage bill caused by Alfred.

Peter Dutton said insurers must prioritise paying out storm and flood victims quickly, or he should seek ways to break up the major insurance companies to create greater competition.

“I want to make sure that they are able to process the claims in an expedited way, because families are living with the uncertainty,” the Opposition Leader said. “I’m not going to tolerate a situation where big insurance companies are lining their pockets with big profits while families are going without insurance.”

NRMA, operated by IAG Insurance, will open temporary claim centres at Queensland Recovery Hubs, as well as Bunnings carparks at Robina and Oxenford on the Gold Coast, and across the border at Tweed Heads.

Mr Hall said insured homeowners and businesses affected by the storms should make a claim as soon as possible, even if the extent of damage was not known.

Flooding through southeast Queensland and northern NSW in 2022 was the costliest insured event in Australia’s history, resulting in $6.4bn in losses across more than 245,000 claims.

Since the flood buyback scheme was introduced by the Queensland government following that event, about one-third of the 670 properties deemed eligible in the Ipswich council area have been purchased, including 145 detached houses and 60 units.

Ipswich mayor Teresa Harding said the community “dodged a bullet” but that she would like to see the pool of funds available to purchase properties widened.

“We have certainly advocated for that, and put (the request) through the LGAQ (Local Government Association of Queensland) as well,” she said.

Cyclone Tracy, which devastated Darwin in 1964 and claimed 66 lives, remains the most expensive tropical cyclone to hit Australia, with insurance claims costs at $7.4bn when adjusted for inflation as at 2023.

The last cyclone to cause widespread damage in Australia was Jasper in north Queensland in December 2023, which cost $409m from about 10,500 claims.