The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has welcomed the appointment of a lead contractor who will conduct the clean-up of bushfire-impacted residential and commercial properties in NSW, saying it will provide greater certainty to affected property owners.
“The insurance industry is pleased the NSW government and Commonwealth government have reached a joint funding agreement on property clean-up,” ICA CEO Rob Whelan said. “Government-funded cleanup using a lead contractor for all bushfire-affected homes and commercial properties, whether insured or uninsured, is best practice following a bushfire catastrophe. All savings that insurers may accrue through this process will be passed on to policyholders to help them to rebuild their properties and their lives.”
The peak industry body also announced that it will assist the independent NSW expert inquiry into the 2019-20 bushfires.
“The Insurance Council and its members are preparing to provide their expertise and insights to assist former Deputy Commissioner of NSW Police Dave Owens and former NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer Professor Mary O’Kane AC during the inquiry,” Whelan said. “This inquiry must be robust and far-reaching if it is to provide insights and effective recommendations, and the ICA would welcome contributing to its final terms of reference.”
The ICA boss added: “Much can be learned from these fires to help prevent or reduce the impact of future bushfires in NSW, in particular the roles of mitigation, building design, and land-use planning. The ICA encourages the inquiry to examine levels and causes of non-insurance and underinsurance in bushfire-hit regions, including the effect that state taxes and levies have had on the cost and purchase of household and business policies in the state.”
