Climate Change Threatens Australian Suburbs with Unaffordable Insurance
Climate Change Threatens Australian Suburbs with Unaffordable Insurance
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More than 4% of Australian properties are currently facing heightened risks from natural hazards exacerbated by climate change, rendering insurance coverage often unaffordable or unavailable, according to recent findings by Climate Valuation.
An analysis of over 15 million properties across 15,000 suburbs also highlights that an additional 10% are at moderate risk from disasters such as floods, bushfires, tropical cyclones, coastal inundation, and extreme winds.
Properties identified as high-risk are likely to encounter skyrocketing insurance costs, according to the report commissioned by the Climate Council. Karl Mallon, the founder of Climate Valuation, emphasized the immediacy of the threat posed by climate change, urging decision-makers to address the concerning statistics detailed in the research.
The climate group's modelling identifies 86 suburbs as "critical climate risk zones," wherein 80% to 100% of properties are at risk of becoming financially uninsurable if current trends persist.
The escalating risks and rising cost of insuring these properties underscore the broader financial repercussions of climate change on Australian communities. The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has noted that insurers have long cautioned about these escalating risks, tying rising insurance premiums to extreme weather events, which have resulted in $4.5 billion insured costs annually over the past five years. This marks a nearly 70% increase compared to the previous five-year period, with projected costs reaching $35 billion by 2050 if no mitigating actions are undertaken.
The report highlights the potential backlash on the economy if insurance becomes inaccessible, with valuable community resilience being the key to maintaining affordability and availability of coverage.
The ICA advocates for significant investments in resilience and mitigation, such as a proposed $30 billion investment in flood defenses. It also urges the removal of unfair state insurance taxes and the promotion of household resilience measures, which some insurers already incentivize through premium reductions.
Climate Valuation additionally suggests several measures including retrofitting homes, relocating properties in extreme cases, halting development in high-risk areas, and ensuring that new constructions are climate-resilient as per the National Construction Code adaptation. These steps, it argues, would not only protect communities but also relieve pressure on insurance premiums, delivering what they describe as a "double dividend."
The report calls for a comprehensive integration of "climate proofing" into national standards to prevent placing more Australians in harm's way and to foster the development of sustainable, resilient infrastructure.
In February 2025, an independent review conducted by McGrathNicol uncovered significant issues within Netstrata, a prominent strata management company. The investigation revealed that Netstrata failed to disclose commissions and did not obtain multiple quotes for services, potentially breaching legal obligations. Additionally, the review identified undisclosed personal relationships between Netstrata employees and suppliers, raising serious concerns about conflicts of interest. - read more
In May 2025, NSW Fair Trading took decisive action against Result Strata Management Pty Ltd and its General Manager, Michael Lee, by permanently revoking their licences to operate in the state's strata management sector. This move followed an investigation that uncovered multiple breaches of the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002, highlighting significant misconduct within the company. - read more
In November 2025, CHU, Australia's largest strata insurance underwriting agency, released its 2025 State of the Strata Market report, providing a comprehensive analysis of the current trends and challenges within the strata industry. The report offers valuable insights into premium trends, climate-related risks, regulatory developments, and emerging sector challenges. - read more
Australian homeowners are experiencing significant increases in home insurance premiums, largely due to the escalating risks associated with climate change. Recent analyses reveal a national average premium hike of 14%, translating to an additional $343 annually for policyholders. This trend underscores the growing financial burden on homeowners as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe. - read more
The Australian construction insurance market has entered a notably softer phase in 2025, characterized by a significant reduction in premiums across various lines. This shift is primarily attributed to increased competition among insurers, offering clients more options and driving down costs. - read more
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Proximate Cause: The primary cause of loss in an insurance claim, which sets in motion a chain of events leading to the damage or injury.
