Insurance Council of Australia

Cyclone

Insurer townhall and consultations scheduled for Hervey Bay

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Insurer townhall and consultations scheduled for Hervey Bay

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News release

Thursday, 1 May 2025

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) is hosting an insurer townhall and consultations in Hervey Bay this month for customers affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Impacted policyholders will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives from a number of insurers, giving them an opportunity to discuss their individual claim and seek personal advice.

In the evening, the ICA will host a townhall where locals will also have the opportunity to obtain general information on the claims process, complaints avenues and other useful insurance-related information to assist with insurance claims and the recovery process.

Details of the townhall and consultations are as follows:

Date: Thursday 15 May 2025
Location: The Clubhouse Hervey Bay, Corner Tooth St & Old Maryborough Road, Pialba, Hervey Bay
Time: One-on-one insurer consultations - 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Townhall - 5:00pm, with further consultations to follow until 8:00pm.

Registrations for the consultations and the townhall are essential. Bookings can be made on the ICA website at www.insurancecouncil.com.au/bookings.

Quote attributable to ICA Director of Mitigation and Extreme Weather Response, Liam Walter:

The impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred are still being felt in many communities, with more than 100,000 claims received totalling almost $1 billion.

While the Insurance Council and its members had presence in Hervey Bay immediately following this weather event and provided support and advice for impacted community members, it’s important for insurers to visit the region to work through any questions, issues or concerns.

We expect assessments activities and scope of works discussions are well underway at this point in the claim process but hope these additional forums will provide further support for the Hervey Bay community as they continue their recovery.

 

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Insurers issue preparation tips amid landfall warnings for TC Alfred

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Insurers issue preparation tips amid landfall warnings for TC Alfred

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News release

Tuesday, 4 March 2025

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) today said insurers are on standby to respond to Tropical Cyclone Alfred as the category two system is expected to turn towards the southeast Queensland coast today with a coastal impact later this week.

While cyclones are inherently unpredictable, TC Alfred is currently predicted to cause strong winds, heavy rain and storm surge between Sandy Cape in Queensland and Grafton in New South Wales.

Ahead of the weather system’s anticipated landfall, people in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales are being urged to prepare.

Where possible, residents should:

  • Clear their property and gutters from loose material that possibly cause injury or damage during extreme winds or heavy rain, including moving outdoor furniture and pool accessories
  • Secure boats or vehicles and move their car under cover
  • Place important documents and valuables in plastic bags or other waterproof containers and put in a safe place
  • Check your emergency kit is ready and nearby
    Insurance disaster response specialists are on standby, and the Insurance Council is liaising with the State Government, Queensland Reconstruction Authority and the National Emergency Management Agency in preparation.

In anticipation, insurers have already activated their emergency response procedures and stand ready to support and prioritise customers in communities along the east coast, should they be impacted.

Quote attributable to ICA CEO Andrew Hall:

The safety and wellbeing of the community is of paramount importance and while it is still too soon to determine the true intensity of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, insurers stand ready to support customers and to help alleviate the stress and uncertainty associated with this event.

A cyclone of this scale hasn’t made landfall along the east coast for 35 years, and it’s important to not be complacent.

Insurers have placed disaster response specialists on standby to move into affected communities and assist customers with claims as needed.

This remains an unfolding and unpredictable weather event and insurers’ priority is community safety.

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Buying insurance before an event

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When to buy insurance

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Buying a policy before an event

Some types of insurance may benefit you if they are bought in advance, such as travel insurance. Travel insurance may be purchased as soon as the deposit for the trip is paid. It usually does not cost any more to purchase the cover at this time, and the cancellation cover can start straight away.

Embargoes

Insurers often place embargoes on insurance policies to prevent people buying insurance when the risks are elevated or a disaster is approaching and then cancelling cover after the risk passes. 

Embargoes on insurance are a normal and accepted practice, and usually apply to new policies. They take effect when events such as fires, floods and cyclones are impacting or considered likely to impact an area. 

If an insured risk is imminent, the probability of that risk occurring and therefore a claim being lodged is high. Insurers would need to calculate a premium that reflects this elevated risk, rather than averaging the risk over an entire year.

However, not all insurers impose embargoes. Australia’s insurance market is large and highly competitive, and at any one time there are usually insurers who have not enacted an embargo, and property owners may be able to find cover.

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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners on the many lands the people of the ICA reside and work. We respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Elders past, present, and emerging.
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