Insurers across Australia are deploying on-the-ground teams in storm‑hit communities as severe thunderstorms and hail across Queensland and New South Wales drive rising claims and test 2025–26 natural peril programs.
Field staff are being positioned in locations including Bribie Island, Logan, and Brisbane, with further deployments into the Moreton Bay region from Dec. 1 to support in-person claim lodgement, early damage assessments, and make‑safe works on homes and businesses.
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has extended its Insurance Catastrophe declaration to include all postcodes in Queensland and New South Wales for storm and hail activity between Nov. 20 and Nov. 27, 2025. The event, formally named “Qld and NSW Severe Storms and Hail,” has so far generated more than 44,600 claims across personal and commercial portfolios, with numbers expected to rise as additional losses are identified in the days ahead. Under the catastrophe declaration framework, insurers are implementing surge staffing, centralised coordination through the ICA, and closer engagement with government agencies and emergency services.
Allianz Australia has mobilised its disaster and recovery Ttam to Bribie Island Town Hall in Bongaree, Queensland, providing face-to-face assistance from 9am to 4pm from Dec. 2. By that date, Allianz had received more than 5,000 claims linked to the storms.
The team is assisting customers to lodge claims, arrange payments, and secure emergency and temporary accommodation. Staff are also working to identify customers who may be experiencing vulnerability and may need additional support, including referrals to appropriate services. Scott Cooper, national manager disaster and recovery at Allianz, commented: “We encourage our customers to head in for a face-to-face conversation with one of our representatives. We can assist in helping you to understand your policy and the claims process, as well as assist with lodging a claim, booking assessments, and arranging temporary accommodation if needed.”
Allianz is directing customers to its 24/7 claims phone line and online portal and is using photographic evidence to process some motor claims without physical vehicle inspections. The insurer is advising policyholders to begin cleanup activities, compile an inventory of damaged property with photos and model details, and access counselling services where required.
Suncorp had reported just over 10,000 claims as of 4pm on Nov. 26, split approximately evenly between home and motor, following several days of supercell thunderstorms that brought large hail and high winds to southeast Queensland and parts of northern New South Wales. The group expects a net cost of about $350 million from this event, reaching its maximum event retention under its catastrophe reinsurance program.
Read next: Disaster chaser warnings issued as Queensland hailstorm claims escalate
Suncorp CEO Steve Johnston said the insurer’s Disaster Management Centre is fully activated, with Mobile Disaster Response Hubs operating in heavily affected areas and panel builders undertaking emergency repairs. “We are working hard to respond to every customer as quickly as possible, and I encourage impacted customers to lodge their claim online as soon as possible, even if the full extent of the damage is not yet known,” Johnston said.
The hail event sits within a sequence of natural hazard activity for Suncorp across Australia and New Zealand. The group estimates total natural hazard costs of between $1.15 billion and $1.275 billion for the period from July 1 to Nov. 25, 2025, compared with a fiscal 2026 natural hazard allowance of $1.77 billion.
Suncorp said its core catastrophe cover remains in force, leaving capacity for two more large events at a maximum event retention of $350 million, supported by additional protection for a third large event up to $1 billion. Given the estimated cost of the October Eastern States severe thunderstorms and deductible erosion from recent losses, Suncorp expects the retention for the next major Australian event to reduce to between $240 million and $280 million.
IAG had received more than 8,500 claims as of Nov. 26 across its brands for the Southeast Queensland storms and hail, predominantly in motor and home, with additional losses for food spoilage. Luke Gallagher, IAG executive general manager of claims, said the insurer has sent NRMA Insurance Help Response vehicles into the most affected locations to assist customers with lodging claims and accessing the internet. The RACQ Mobile Claims Centre is also operating in impacted communities to support members. Partner builders have begun more than 800 make-safe repairs to damaged properties, while specialist hail repair teams are assessing and processing damaged vehicles so customers can resume using their vehicles once repairs are completed.
