Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has flagged changes to the insurance industry in the wake of Queensland’s devastating floods.
Mr Swan says there appear to be grey areas, amid concerns over insurance companies refusing to compensate people who thought they were covered for flood damage.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that there is a need for reform in this area, but at the moment we’re concentrating on dealing with the practical realities of what people are facing today,” he told the ABC.
“What’s very important (is) those with insurance get their claims submitted.”
Brisbane meanwhile is facing a homelessness crisis.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said Brisbane was facing “a massive relocation task” after 11,900 homes and 2500 businesses were flooded.
She said many flood victims were staying with family and friends while others had insurance policies that would cover the cost of alternative accommodation.
But, she warned: “There will be a very large number of people who might not have any of those options”.
“We are currently looking at how we can provide temporary accommodation. It may be necessary in some places to have, effectively, a temporary work-camp set up,” she told the ABC.
“We have a large homelessness task ahead of us and we’re looking at every option.” Ms Bligh will convene a special cabinet meeting at 11am (AEDT) today to formulate a detailed recovery plan for the flood-devastated state.
She said it was clear many people would be homeless for an extended period of time.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has warned there could be bodies lying undiscovered in Brisbane homes.
“We are concerned, sadly, about the potential for people to be found who may have died,” he told reporters today, urging people to check homes where there’d been no activity for days.
“We’re concerned, as well, that there may be elderly people or other people who have literally had a nervous breakdown. They may be sitting in their homes in a dark room and need help now.”
Queensland’s floods death toll still stands at 18, most in valley communities. Police say grave fears are held for 14 others who remain missing from the Toowoomba/Lockyer Valley area.
As Brisbane gets back on its feet, the premier has suggested some properties in flood-prone areas may not be rebuilt.
“We have some very old homes that are in places that are clearly flood-prone and we’re going to have to give some consideration in the rebuilding task to where they should be located,” Ms Bligh told the ABC.
As Brisbane’s CBD returned to life on Monday, workers were being urged to use free public transport, car pool, and to stagger their arrivals to ease pressure on damaged road networks.
Source : News Nine MSN
