Cassowary Coast Advocates for Changes to Cyclone Insurance

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Published
29th July 2024

Cassowary Coast Regional Council continues to actively participate in shaping statewide policy agendas through the submission of motions addressing critical issues at this year’s Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Conference in October.

Mayor Teresa Millwood said the motions include advocating for changes to cyclone reinsurance and addressing insurance affordability for households and small business, as well as securing funding commitments aligned with the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan.

“The current reinsurance claims period of just 48 hours is not enough,” Mayor Millwood said.

“We need the government to support a claims period of a week alongside consideration of a range of other factors to improve the affordability of insurance premiums for households and small businesses.

“We’ll also continue advocating on behalf of the 19 Reef Guardian Councils, underscoring a collective commitment to preserving the Great Barrier Reef and its ecological future.”

Council is also advocating for an amendment to the Local Government Act providing for the Mayor to give direction to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and senior executives.

“Since 2019 legislation provides for Mayoral power to direct the CEO, and we want this to go back to including senior executives,” said Mayor Millwood.

Accompanying the Mayor at the 128th Annual LGAQ Conference in Brisbane from 21 to 23 October 2024 will be Councillors Pervan, Baines, Jessop and McLeod. This pivotal event brings together councils from across the state for networking, professional development, and strategic discussions aimed at enhancing community outcomes.

"The opportunity to exchange insights and strategies with fellow councils through this event is invaluable," said Mayor Millwood.

"We are committed to leveraging this forum to drive positive change and deliver meaningful outcomes for our region."

Ends.

Motions as endorsed by Council to be presented at the LGAQ Conference:

  1. Cyclone Reinsurance Pool and Insurance Affordability for Households and Small Business

Cassowary Coast Regional Council seeks the claims period for cyclone and cyclone-related flood damage arising during a cyclone event which lasts from the time a cyclone begins until after the cyclone ends (the Cyclone Event Period) to be increased from 48 hours to 168 hours (7 days), and consideration of a range of other factors to improve the affordability of insurance premiums for households and small businesses.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council is seeking -

a) The claims period for cyclone and cyclone-related flood damage arising during a cyclone event which lasts from the time a cyclone begins until after the cyclone ends (the Cyclone Event Period) to be increased from 48 hours to 168 hours (7 days) in line with standard reinsurance contracts.

b) Reduction in duties and levies on insurance premiums to increase the affordability of insurance premiums for households and small businesses.

c) Incentives for policy-holders to mitigate insured risks (buildings and contents) such as an extension of the eligibility criteria for the Household Resilience Program.

 

  1. Local Governments implementing the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 20250 Plan)

Calls on the State and Federal governments to support Queensland Local Governments, particularly the Reef Guardian Councils, in their efforts to implement actions under the Reef 2050 Plan, through direct funding and capacity building.

 

  1. Queensland Government funding for Local Governments implementing the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050 Plan)

Calls on the Queensland Government to match the Australian Government Reef Guardian Councils Program – Activating Local Councils’ Reef Action Plans grant funding to support implementation of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability

 

  1. Amendment to the Local Government Act providing for authority for the Mayor to direct the chief executive officer and senior executives of the local government

Council puts forward the motion that the LGAQ advocates for amendments to the Local Government Act 2009 S12(4)(c) to be amended to read “directing the chief executive officer and senior executives of the local government under section 170”’ and Section 170 be amended to read “The mayor may give direction to the chief executive officer and senior executives.”

 

Under the LGAQ protocol, resolutions that have been previously submitted by CCRC and endorsed at the LGAQ Conference cannot be re-submitted as they are still “live”.  These motions include:

  • Feral Pigs - National Feral Pig Action Plan – 2031
  • Reef 2050 - Hot Spot and Sewerage Upgrades - Reef Trust
  • Housing - Key Worker Housing – Funding
  • Water Security - Building our Regions Funding Continued
  • Rural GP's - 2019 Stronger Rural Health Strategy
  • Grow Our Own - Continued and Increased Funding for Apprenticeships
  • Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy - Fund Actions from Strategy
  • Reef 2050 - Implementation of the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050 Plan)
  • Primary Health Care - Collaborative and Place-Based Primary Health Care Services
  • Works for Queensland Funding – Continued and increased
  • Community Safety Funding – The establishment of a funding program to fund initiatives that prevent or minimise criminal activity, or support the victims of crime or community safety.

Photo caption:  Mayor Teresa Millwood advocating for the Cassowary Coast at the 2024 National General Assembly of Local Government earlier this month