Flood insurance inquiry hearings in western Sydney, the Hawkesbury and central-west NSW, 7-10 May

The House Standing Committee on Economics will hold public hearings in western Sydney, the Hawkesbury and the Central West from 7–10 May as part of its inquiry into insurers’ responses to 2022 major floods claims.

The Committee will hold public hearings at:

• Cabonne Community Centre, Molong – Tuesday 7 May
• Eugowra Bowling Club, Eugowra – Wednesday 8 May
• Richmond Club, Richmond – Thursday 9 May
• Venue tbc, Parramatta – Friday 10 May

Committee Chair Daniel Mulino MP said the inquiry had heard from regulators, insurance companies and consumer advocacy and legal rights groups. “Now we want to hear firsthand from the locals in some of the worst-hit regions.”

The Committee has recently held hearings in south-east Queensland, Lismore NSW, Maribyrnong (western Melbourne) and regional Victoria.

The Committee will next travel to Molong and Eugowra in central-west NSW, which were devastated by unprecedented flash flooding in November 2022. The Committee will also hear evidence in Richmond from communities along the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, which was hit by back-to-back flood events in February 2020, March 2021, March, April and July 2022 – the worst flood since 1978 – October 2022, and again in April this year. The Committee will then take evidence in Parramatta in western Sydney.

Dr Mulino said the Committee will hear from affected councils, community organisations and businesses, which are being invited to give evidence at roundtable discussions. Organisations that wish to contribute can email their interest to the Committee secretariat at floodinsurance.reps@aph.gov.au

Expressions of interest are also sought from residents to give a three to four-minute public statement about their experience with their insurers. Dr Mulino urged people “with a story to share, and who are willing to go on the public record, to register – as soon as possible – their interest in appearing”.

The Committee would like to hear about any of the following issues:

• the experiences of policyholders before, during and after making claims
• timeframes for resolving claims
• obstacles to resolving claims
• insurers’ communication with policyholders
• accessibility, affordability and quality of hydrology reports and other expert assessments
• affordability of insurance premiums
• claimants’ experiences of insurers’ dispute resolution processes.

People who wish to make a public statement should email a one or two sentence summary of their experience to the Committee secretariat at floodinsurance.reps@aph.gov.au. They should write “Public hearing” and the hearing location (Molong, Eugowra, Richmond or Parramatta) in the subject line and include the full name(s) for each person who wants to participate, as well as a contact number and email address.

Dr Mulino said that not everyone may be able to be accommodated on the day. “We know that in some of these places almost everyone has a story to tell. But for anyone who misses out or who wishes to provide information to the Committee, there is still time to make a public or confidential submission, and/or complete our online survey.”

More than 400 people have completed the survey about their experience with their insurer. The survey is open until 31 July and is available here.

Submissions can be uploaded through this online link or emailed to floodinsurance.reps@aph.gov.au until 31 July 2024.

Programs for the hearings will be posted on the inquiry website closer to the time. A live audio stream of the hearings will be available on the APH website.

For further information contact the Committee secretariat on 02 6277 4707 or email floodinsurance.reps@aph.gov.au.

Public hearings, May 2024:

Molong, NSW

Date: 7 May 2024
Time: 9am (tbc)
Location: Cabonne Community Centre, 98 Bank St, Molong

Eugowra, NSW

Date: 8 May 2024
Time: 9am (tbc)
Location: Eugowra Bowling Club, 5 Hill St, Eugowra

Richmond, NSW

Date: 9 May 2024
Time: 9am (tbc)
Location: Richmond Club, 6 E Market St, Richmond

Parramatta, NSW

Date: 10 May 2024
Time: 9am (tbc)
Location: Tbc

Media inquiries

Committee Chair
Dr Daniel Mulino MP
02 6277 4311
Daniel.Mulino.MP@aph.gov.au

For more information about the Economics Committee and its flood inquiry, visit its website, where you can read submissions and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can track the Committee’s work and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button on the bottom right-hand side of the page.