Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington’s $50 million election promise to create more resilient homes could deliver lower insurance premiums to many households exposed to cyclone and storms.
The proposed grants of up to $15,000 under the Tradie Boost scheme would deliver local jobs and make Queensland more resilient along coastal regions from Bundaberg to Thursday Island and west to the Northern Territory border.
Insurance Council of Australia CEO Andrew Hall said the election promise was aligned with consistent ICA calls for resilience programs to strengthen properties in northern Queensland.
“It supports the Insurance Council’s long-held position that governments should focus on measures that will provide long-lasting change by addressing the underlying cause of insurance affordability issues,” he said.
“Queensland’s recent Household Resilience Scheme is proof that projects designed to improve the ability of homes to withstand the impact of cyclones and storms can also reduce household premiums.
“The Insurance Council is working on projects to better understand the exposure and vulnerability of Queensland homes. These include work with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and local governments in Queensland to address severe wind risks, as well as James Cook University and Risk Frontiers on reducing housing vulnerability in a changing climate environment.”
