- Representatives from all levels of government and the insurance industry gathered in St George for the Crisafulli Government's second insurance roundtable.
- New flood studies will feature as part of discussions, putting pressure on insurers to drive down insurance premiums.
- Other agenda items will focus on resilience-building efforts in rural and remote Queensland, and greater recognition of this work in the policy pricing of insurers.
The Crisafulli Government has held a second insurance roundtable to put the focus on new flood studies and how they can be used to apply downward pressure on insurance premiums.
During their decade of decline, the former Labor Government failed to deliver permanent investment to disaster-prone infrastructure – particularly in regional Queensland – which left taxpayers trapped in a costly cycle of repairing assets after every disaster.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start by doubling the investment in Betterment projects to build back better to reduce the ravages of Queensland's severe weather, for homes, community groups, roads and bridges.
The roundtable is being held on 29 April in the south-west town of St George and will feature representatives from the Queensland Government, councils in the region, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the insurance industry.
Sharing more flood data between local governments and insurance providers was a key commitment from the first insurance roundtable held in Charleville in September 2025.
In response to this, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) established a working group with roundtable participants to develop a process for updated flood studies and mapping to be transferred into the National Flood Information Database (NFID).
With the support of relevant councils and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development, data from seven flood studies was provided to the Insurance Council of Australia in March.
This year several key flood resilience and mitigation projects have also been announced for south-west Queensland through the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Program, with funding for flood risk management initiatives, including flood studies and floor level surveys, a review of the region's flood warning system, and strengthened road floodways in Quilpie Shire.
The Crisafulli Government is pushing for this improved data and increased resilience investment to be properly recognised when insurers price premiums for regional and remote communities.
Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said the Crisafulli Government was doing everything in its power to help drive down insurance costs for Queenslanders.
"Labor failed to invest permanently in disaster‑prone infrastructure, resulting in taxpayers repeatedly funding repairs to assets repeatedly damaged by disasters," Minister Leahy said.
"We are investing heavily in flood mitigation and resilience, and insurers need to recognise that work in their premium pricing.
"Too many families and businesses are being forced to underinsure or walk away from cover altogether.
"This roundtable is about putting the facts on the table including better data, more mitigation and a clear case for fairer insurance premiums for regional Queensland."
Chair of the South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils and Balonne Shire Mayor Samantha O'Toole welcomes the opportunity to host this roundtable in the region.
"Our region has invested millions of dollars implementing successful flood levees and other flood mitigation measures that virtually extinguish the flood risk for our residents," Mayor O'Toole said.
"Despite the flood levees in place, some of our residents have seen their insurance premium quotes double year-on-year, with some receiving quotes in excess of $20,000 for a standard home due to flood risk, and that needs to stop.
"This roundtable is another opportunity for us to work with the insurance industry to ensure they factor in our flood mitigation measures when assessing their premiums.
"With heightened cost-of-living pressures hitting families across the country, it's time for insurance companies to do the right thing by their customers and recognise the success of our flood levees and mitigation measures."
