Debbie damage bill at $ 1b

THE insurance bill from Tropical Cyclone Debbie has almost hit $ 1 billion.

Insurers have received more than 58,000 claims – stretching from North Queensland to northern New South Wales – worth $ 988 million. More than 80 per cent of claims were for damage to homes or contents and almost 90 per cent of the claims were made in Queensland.

In March, Cyclone Debbie hit the coast near Airlie Beach as a Category 4 system, and then continued south over the next week and affected northern NSW. The Queensland Budget estimated the impact of Debbie to the Queensland economy at $ 2 billion.

The Insurance Council of Australia will run forums in cyclone and flood- prone regions of Queensland next month.