The inaugural meeting of the HIP occurred on 2 February 2023 in Brisbane, with attendees from Government and the insurance industry. Members noted how they were pleased to have a formal mechanism between government and industry to discuss unaffordability and coverage of hazards insurance. Members also affirmed the HIP’s vision to reduce risks for communities through targeted mitigation investment, communication of knowledge needed for mitigation and improved industry advice to Government.

A communiqué of the meeting (PDF 79.89KB) is now available. 

The Hazards Insurance Partnership (HIP) met for the second time on 16 March 2023. Members endorsed the Terms of Reference. Membership discussed the policy issues that would benefit from Government and industry collaboration through the HIP and confirmed that the HIP would be informed and consulted on the DRF for future rounds. A communiqué of the meeting (PDF 63.21KB) is now available.

The HIP met for the third time on 25 May 2023. Members discussed how Australia’s approach to insuring hazard risks compared to our international counterparts. Members also discussed the Second National Action Plan and how the industry could contribute and provide feedback. Members agreed to commence a project to identify high hazard risk areas and mitigations that can be implemented to reduce risk and have a positive impact on insurance affordability and availability. Members discussed the alignment of this project with work being undertaken by the Australian Climate Service (ACS). A communiqué of the meetingx (PDF 105KB) is now available.

The HIP met for the fourth time on 6 September 2023. Members noted the one-year anniversary of NEMA’s establishment and progress made through the seven months since the first meeting of the HIP. The Australian Climate Service provided an update on work through the Technical Working Group whilst NEMA provided an update from the Mitigation Working Group. Members discussed engagement with the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee (ANZEMC) and the National Emergency Management Ministers’ Meeting (NEMMM), to ensure relevant issues can be fed from ANZEMC and NEMMM to the HIP, and vice versa. Members were also consulted on the Independent Review of Commonwealth Disaster Funding and Round Two of the Disaster Ready Fund. A communiqué of the meeting (PDF 320KB) is now available.

The HIP met the fifth time on 7 December 2023. Members received updates on the Higher Risk Weather Season and the whole-of-government program of work to address cost of living pressures. The Australian Climate Service (ACS) and the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) provided an update on the Bundaberg Flood Pilot. Members agreed to progress discussions on the path forward for bilateral data sharing agreements between government and industry. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the ICA provided an update on the Climate Vulnerability Assessment. The ICA and Insurers briefed members on the findings from the industry-commissioned report from Deloitte, ‘The new benchmark for catastrophe preparedness in Australia’ (PDF 4.53MB). A communique of the meeting (PDF 228KB) is now available.

The HIP met for the sixth time on 23 February 2024. The Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Murray Watt and the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Finance Services, the Hon Stephen Jones MP attended alongside attendees from Government and the insurance industry. Members noted that the Government’s priority to improve insurance affordability and the importance of collaboration to effectively and sustainably reduce insurance premiums. Members were given updates on the Strategic Insurance Projects: The Treasury provided an update on the review of the standard cover regime and standard definitions, the Australian Climate Service and the Insurance Council of Australia provided an update of the Priority Catchment Mitigation Strategy and Flood Pilot, the Australian Bureau of Statistics provided an update on the progress of the Enduring Data Asset, and NEMA updated members on the community research being undertaken to gain insight on disaster risk awareness and attitudes. Members also discussed the 2024 HIP Work Program. A communique of the meeting (PDF 44KB) is available.

The HIP met for the seventh time on 21 May 2024 virtually. Members noted the outcomes from the Australian Government Budget for 2024-2025 including the creation of the Insurance Affordability and Natural Hazard Risk Reduction Taskforce to be led by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Members discussed the opportunities to ensure targeted government and household investments were translated into downwards pressure on household premiums. The Australian Bureau of Statistics, on behalf of the Australian Climate Service, provided an update on their work developing the Enduring Data Asset for insurance policy information. Members also discussed a national flood risk prioritisation approach to identify high priority flood catchment areas. NEMA provided members with a summary of the outcomes from the Community Awareness and Attitudinal Research Project. A communique of the meeting is available (PDF 260KB)

The HIP met for the eighth time on 29 August 2024 in Brisbane. The Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister, attended and welcomed three new insurance industry members. NEMA provided an update on its preparations for the upcoming Higher Risk Weather Season and members highlighted the importance of communities needing to understand their risk and be engaged in these matters by both governments and private sector alike. Updates were also provided to members on the ongoing work streams including investigating potential mitigations to address flood risk in identified catchments, building an enduring insurance dataset, and projects to enhance community understanding of risk and appropriate mitigation interventions. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet briefed members on the Insurance Affordability and Natural Hazard Risk Reduction Taskforce. Members shared their insights of the joint Insurance Council of Australia and the American Chamber of Commerce’s Insurance Study Tour of the United States of America. Finally, the Actuaries Institute presented and discussed their findings with HIP members from their 2024 Home Insurance Affordability Update. A communique of the meeting is available (PDF 135KB).

The HIP held its ninth meeting on 12 November 2024 online. Members approved updates to the Terms of Reference. Members discussed a number of recent reports including the Independent Review of Commonwealth Disaster Funding (Colvin Review) and the House of Representatives’ Inquiry into Insurers’ responses to 2022 Major Flood Claims. Members also discussed the industry’s readiness for the Higher Risk Weather Season. Members noted the significant milestone of the original five insurers having signed data sharing agreements to collect insurance data from around Australia. Finally, members proposed ideas for the 2025 HIP Work Plan to ensure the HIP’s continued success. A communique of the meeting is available (PDF 337KB).