Andrew GEE MP INDEPENDENT FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CALARE

INQUIRY WILL SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON SHOCKING INSURANCE PRACTICES IN DISASTER-HIT COMMUNITIES

Iwelcome the announcement that the federal government will launch a parliamentary inquiry into the response of insurers to the 2022 storm and flood events including those that occurred in Central Western NSW.

Since this disaster hit our region, we have heard many stories of heartache and heartbreak from local residents and business people who have had their homes and livelihoods destroyed.

Communities like Eugowra, Molong, Canowindra, Cudal and Wellington were devastated by November’s storm and flood events.

The rebuilding and recovery process has been made much harder, and the tragedy much worse, by the cold-hearted and shocking response of insurers to policyholders.

The anger in our communities is white hot, and I don’t think we are alone, with other regions across Australia left reeling from the callous conduct of insurance companies. From long delays in claims processing, to widespread knockbacks. It’s taken a massive toll across our region.

The reality is that there is a huge power imbalance between policy holders and insurance companies.

At the end of the day, if a policy holder wants to fight a knockback from an insurer, they’re going to need to fork out big dollars for an expert hydrology report and also a solicitor. If you’ve lost everything or your business is in ruins, there is just no prospect of fighting back.

The stories of insurers trying to do the right thing are sadly few and far between.

Australians expect insurers to be assessing claims in a generous and kind-hearted way, nothing less.

Insurance companies don’t just answer to shareholders, but also to the nation. They don’t just have insurance contracts with our residents, they also operate with a social licence.

We need to get to the bottom of what’s happened here and make sure the pain that insurance companies have inflicted on our communities is not repeated in others.

I’m hoping that this inquiry can shine a spotlight on the experience of our local residents and that they will get a chance to tell their stories on a national stage so that other communities won’t have to go through what we have endured.

Art Prize 2023

It was an honour to attend the Cabonne Acquisitive Art Prize 2023 at Molong RSL recently!

The art prize and exhibition showcases the extraordinary creative talent of local artists across our region, and also provides a great opportunity for our students to showcase their amazing talent!

Congratulations to Jason McDonald from Hargraves who took home the top prize, and all of the students who displayed their artworks.

Canowindra Public’s Ivy Milton took out first place in the primary section, followed by Molong Central’s Lizzy Harris and Cumnock Public’s Max Butler.

In the secondary section it was a Molong Central clean sweep with Marli Mills taking out first place, followed by Jack Ryan and Ethan Brouff.

After the formalities, I caught up with Stella Mitchell and Mackenzie Mitchell from Molong Central who showed me their beautiful paintings.

Well done to all of the artists who exhibited, the President of the Cabonne Arts Council Libby Oldham and her team, and Cabonne Council for helping put on this fantastic art competition.

The stories that emerged from recent public meetings I’ve held on insurance claims have been deeply troubling.

I am grateful to the Prime Minister and also to the Minister for Financial Services and Assistant Treasurer for answering our communities’ calls for an inquiry.

When I asked the Prime Minister in Question Time in May whether he would support an inquiry, he indicated that he would consider it and he has done what he said he would do.

I’m hoping that this inquiry will be a watershed moment in the way that insurers deal with disaster-hit policy holders.

Change needs to come from this immense tragedy and devastation.

I think it’s important that the Minister not only travelled to our area to hear first-hand what our residents have been through but that he also came and delivered a tangible result. It’s certainly more than just a photo opportunity.

NEW FUNDING WELCOME, BUT WHERE'S THE REST?

Iwelcome the visit to our region recently by NSW Minister Kate Washington to discuss a state/federal funding package for disasterhit communities. It is important for her to see what our residents are going through.

Any injection of funding into our devastated region is a positive development.

However, the $9.1 million will go towards multiple disaster-hit areas, so it will be spread pretty thin. More funding is needed for our area, and we will be pushing for it.

While I wasn’t invited to be part of this state and federal funding announcement, one question I would have asked the state government is when will the same assistance measures, that have been announced for the Northern Rivers area of NSW, be announced for our region?

For example, why does the Lismore area have access to the home buy-back scheme and not the storm and flood-hit areas of the Central West? Why is it that other Local Government Areas have access to the Community Assets Program to help rebuild their towns and villages but councils in our region do not?

There is a fundamental injustice and inequality going on here with respect to storm and flood assistance provided by the state and federal governments. The NSW Government can activate this assistance immediately. The question has to be asked, why they haven’t done so? The previous NSW Government failed to act and so too has the new one.

Our residents pay their taxes just like everyone else in the state, and they are right to expect that they will receive equal treatment and an equal level of support.

I call on the NSW Government to activate the same level of disaster assistance for our region that other communities in NSW have received. On the double. Without delay.

Congratulations and a very warm welcome to Michelle Kinsella, Tusitala Sola, and Hayley Stansbury who became our newest Aussie citizens recently in Molong!

It was wonderful to say g'day and have a chat with the group who made their pledge at a lovely ceremony at Cabonne Council Chambers. It’s great to be an Aussie!

AVAILABLE GRANTS!

The 2023-24 Volunteer Grants are now open, with grants between $1,000 and $5,000 being offered to community organisations to help support the efforts of our hardworking volunteers. Grants must go towards items that are of direct benefit to the work of volunteers.

To submit your expression of interest (EOI), please contact my office for an EOI form at andrew. gee.mp@aph.gov.au.

The NGO Flood Recovery Program for flood-affected communities across the Central West is also now open. The program focuses on the long-term resilience of individuals, families, and communities, with funding beginning at $10,000, available for applicants in disasterstruck areas. Applications close on Friday 1 September 2023.