Come to aid, insurers told

INSURANCE companies are being urged not to skip out on Townsville residents left to clean up damage left by floodwaters that swamped much of the far north city.

Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad has invited insurers and the Insurance Council of Australia to meet her in the city on Friday after reports that claimants who had lost their insurance documents were not being paid out.

“Some of the assessments have been very brash and on the spot, rather than allowing residents and households to compile the information and have a conversation with the insurance companies and claim assessors,” Ms Trad said.

“(But households) are doing it tough right now.

“They want compassion, and they want a responsive organisation that understands that they are going through a traumatic event.”

The mopping up is well underway after more than a year’s rainfall was dumped on large parts of north and western Queensland within days.

More than 12,800 insurance claims amounting to more than $160 million have been lodged by residents and businesses in the Townsville region.