Insurance: was unaffordable, now unattainable!
The issue of insurance reaching crisis point in North Queensland.
While insurance premiums in Central and North Queensland have been unaffordable for some years now, we are now moving into the realm of unattainable.
I have had a number of business operators contact me over the past six to 12 months to advise that they simply cannot get anyone in Australia to provide them with insurance.
Some are being directed to overseas providers with premiums that are just not viable for business operators, big or small.
We are now facing a crisis in North Queensland because businesses simply cannot operate without insurance, and no-one will provide them with insurance.
This could have a catastrophic effect on our tourism industry, our real estate industry and business communities as well as create untold stress for so many who will take the risk to operate without insurance.
In order to address the issue, we need to hear from those affected, so I have arranged a series of events to enable everyone from business owners, strata unit owners, tourism operators and general householders to lay the facts on the table to government and industry representatives.
The Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar will be attending these forums in Mackay, Airlie Beach and Townsville on November 14 and 15 to hear directly from concerned business operators and householders. A separate forum will also be conducted with insurance industry representatives.
While I realise not everyone will be able to get to one of the insurance forums, people can also tell their story via my website www.NQinsurance.com.au.
Now is the time to make our voices heard on this issue, and I encourage anyone with an insurance story to tell to get along to the forums, or go online and lodge the details there.
FORUMS:
- Mackay – Harrup Park Country Club, 89 JulietStreet – November 14 at 11.30AM
- Whitsundays – Whitsunday Christian College, 26Paluma Road, Cannonvale – November 14 at 4PM
- Townsville – QCWA Hall, 134 Denham St – November15 at 10AM