Dawson MP George Christensen is “demanding” insurance companies and the Insurance Council of Australia come to the Whitsundays and explain themselves.
Mr Christensen made the call in parliament today, after hearing many “appalling” cases of poor treatment from insurance companies who were dragging out claims.
“I am demanding that the relevant insurance companies as well as the Insurance Council of Australia come to Airlie Beach and sit down with stakeholders to fix the problems that people are having,” Mr Christensen said.
“Cyclone Debbie hit in March this year, and at the time, individual insurers and the Insurance Council of Australia assured me they would honour every claim without dragging out the process. More than six months on, there are hundreds, if not thousands of insurance claims still not settled.
“Meanwhile, people are living in damaged homes and going to work in damaged work places.
“And then, when they get back to their damaged home, they are spending hours on the phone, arguing with building assessors, engineers, and insurance companies who are putting forward undercooked scopes of works that don’t come close to covering the costs of necessary repairs.”
The Insurance Council of Australia recently announced more than 75% of insurance claims had been dealt with, six months on from Cyclone Debbie.
Mr Christensen hopes a meeting with insurance companies will be held in the next month.
Anyone with unresolved insurance issues is encouraged to get in touch with Mr Christensen’s office, by calling 4944 0662 or emailing george.christensen.mp@aph.gov.au
Source: Whitsunday Times.
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