In the wake of the tragic and comprehensive flooding that has occurred across the country, it is timely for all home owners and renters to check their own insurance policies to ensure they are covered for flood damage.

Many policies make a clear distinction between storm damage (where water concentrates and falls downhill) and flood damage (where water rises from creeks and rivers). Already news reports are highlighting the agonising reality that many people in Brisbane will find their claims for insurance payments will be denied even though they have a valid insurance policy in place.

I would like to take this opportunity, while our thoughts are focussed on the devastating impact that floods can have on our properties, to encourage all residents – and in particular residents of Invermay, Inveresk and low-lying parts of Newstead – to take two steps in protecting themselves.

First, ensure you are adequately protected against loss of your home (if you are a home owner) and your contents (home owners and renters) in the event of fire, storm, malicious damage etc. From my own professional experience in the insurance industry I can attest to the fact that a large proportion of people who have insurance are in fact underinsured or have a type of cover which does not meet their specific needs. Without both the suitable type and the correct level of cover, a family would have no hope of getting back on its feet.

Second, carefully clarify with your insurer exactly what your policy covers you for in respect of storm and flood. If I lived in any part of low-lying suburbs of Launceston, I would immediately change my insurer to one that offered flood cover. Especially while the flood levees are in such a pathetic state.

A final plea to my constituents: whether you own your own home or are renting, you need to protect yourself against disaster or misfortune. Over the coming days I will be surveying and compiling a list of insurance companies which do offer flood cover as a standard component of their home and contents policies to assist members of the community in making an informed decision on their insurance needs.

What the Tasmanian Liberals will do:

A Hodgman Liberal Government will provide $11.5 million to the Launceston Flood Authority for urgent and essential works to complete the works on the Lindsay Street Levee re-alignment.

This work, which is well underway, is essential to protect the suburbs of Invermay and Inveresk, and the homes and businesses of around 3,000 people which will be affected if the levees are breached as the result of a significant flood event.

The Launceston City Council has advised that, if the levees are breached, the homes of 1,500 people would be flooded. In addition, a further group of 1,500 would be forced to evacuate because of the loss of water, sewerage and power services.

Apart from the significant loss to private property and public infrastructure, including schools, roads and the Inveresk campus of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, this level of flood would bring with it major public health consequences, including the potential for disease.

The major flood of 1929 recorded what will happen in such a catastrophic flood.

The Launceston City Council has made a strong case for assistance from both the federal and state governments in the amount of $23 million. The Tasmanian Liberals commit to providing dollar-for-dollar funding, in partnership with the Australian Government.

This is essential work that must take place in the next two years to complete the levee works in Lindsay Street.

We would provide $11.5 million spread across financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12 to complete these important remedial works.

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Video highlighting the issue in 2009 on the anniversary of the great flood of 1929