AI
Wednesday, January 05, 2011 1:25:28 AM
Insurance fight looms for victims
Erik Jensen and Malcolm Brown
January 4, 2011
Flood insurance is available to some, to others no. On Pakistan, yeah, i keep thinking about how many
more there are in a worse situation, but it doesn't take away from the tragedy here, or, wherever, another.
"We've got nothing"... Mandy Greene, Paul Barnes and their sons
Bradley and Patrick wade home to look for insurance documents.
Photo: Janie Barrett
MANDY GREENE waded chest deep in Rockhampton floodwaters - a last-minute mission to reach her home, and find her insurance policy before the river rose too high.
Inside her house, beds and other furniture were stacked high on top of chairs. Her husband's rodeo trophies were piled on top of a crate of photographs.
''I can't find it,'' she said, lighting a cigarette to calm her nerves. ''It's just a disaster area.''
Multi more photos inside ..
As the Fitzroy River rises to near record height, insurance is front of mind.
But the hard truth for many residents is that most of the low-lying homes in Rockhampton cannot get flood insurance.
''They just won't insure us,'' said Lyn Pearce, who had decided to stay in her isolated home. ''We've got nothing. Flash flooding [insurance], yes. But floods, no. It will be a disaster for us.''
Yesterday the Queensland government called on the insurance industry to assess claims fairly and quickly.
''Obviously, we want to see all insurance companies pay accord- ing to their policies,'' said the Treasurer, Andrew Fraser. ''There are regulations in place, particularly at a Commonwealth level, and the insurance ombudsman's laws to make sure that insurance companies aren't going to cut corners here when they're facing big bills.''
A spokeswoman for the Premier, Anna Bligh, said it was expected to cost more than $1.5 billion to repair state assets.
''That doesn't include damage to crops and personal property,'' she said.
The general manager of communications for the Australian Insurance Council, Paul Giles, said flood insurance was more easily available than in past years but it came at an extra cost.
It was not possible yet to assess what the final insurance bill would be for the Queensland floods; it might run into hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars, Mr Giles said.
''There is a big area flood-affected, but a lot of it is rural land and even in urban areas a lot of houses are up on stilts,'' he said. ''In Rockhampton … a lot will depend on how quickly people can get in touch with their insurance companies and when insurers can get access to the affected areas.''
The insurance council has a taskforce to quickly assess claims and identify areas of greatest need. However, Queensland consumer groups are gearing up for a stream of insurance disputes.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/weather/insurance-fight-looms-for-victims-20110103-19dww.html
Erik Jensen and Malcolm Brown
January 4, 2011
Flood insurance is available to some, to others no. On Pakistan, yeah, i keep thinking about how many
more there are in a worse situation, but it doesn't take away from the tragedy here, or, wherever, another.
"We've got nothing"... Mandy Greene, Paul Barnes and their sons
Bradley and Patrick wade home to look for insurance documents.
Photo: Janie Barrett
MANDY GREENE waded chest deep in Rockhampton floodwaters - a last-minute mission to reach her home, and find her insurance policy before the river rose too high.
Inside her house, beds and other furniture were stacked high on top of chairs. Her husband's rodeo trophies were piled on top of a crate of photographs.
''I can't find it,'' she said, lighting a cigarette to calm her nerves. ''It's just a disaster area.''
Multi more photos inside ..
As the Fitzroy River rises to near record height, insurance is front of mind.
But the hard truth for many residents is that most of the low-lying homes in Rockhampton cannot get flood insurance.
''They just won't insure us,'' said Lyn Pearce, who had decided to stay in her isolated home. ''We've got nothing. Flash flooding [insurance], yes. But floods, no. It will be a disaster for us.''
Yesterday the Queensland government called on the insurance industry to assess claims fairly and quickly.
''Obviously, we want to see all insurance companies pay accord- ing to their policies,'' said the Treasurer, Andrew Fraser. ''There are regulations in place, particularly at a Commonwealth level, and the insurance ombudsman's laws to make sure that insurance companies aren't going to cut corners here when they're facing big bills.''
A spokeswoman for the Premier, Anna Bligh, said it was expected to cost more than $1.5 billion to repair state assets.
''That doesn't include damage to crops and personal property,'' she said.
The general manager of communications for the Australian Insurance Council, Paul Giles, said flood insurance was more easily available than in past years but it came at an extra cost.
It was not possible yet to assess what the final insurance bill would be for the Queensland floods; it might run into hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars, Mr Giles said.
''There is a big area flood-affected, but a lot of it is rural land and even in urban areas a lot of houses are up on stilts,'' he said. ''In Rockhampton … a lot will depend on how quickly people can get in touch with their insurance companies and when insurers can get access to the affected areas.''
The insurance council has a taskforce to quickly assess claims and identify areas of greatest need. However, Queensland consumer groups are gearing up for a stream of insurance disputes.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/weather/insurance-fight-looms-for-victims-20110103-19dww.html
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