| Assessing
in one hour |
|
WITHIN
an hour of fire breaking out at Holsworthy last year, the
Defence Insurance Office was in top gear and attempting
to assess the likely damage to military assets.
Insurance
Manager Samantha Zimmerman said assessors were at the scene
as soon as the area was declared safe.
Initial
damage estimates were in the range of $20-25million but
have now been revised downward to about $10-15million.
“A
significant component of that will probably be claimable
under the insurance policy,” she said.
There
was significant disruption at Holsworthy as a result of
damage to power and water supplies, creating a range of
issues that needed to be addressed immediately.
“That
all happens on base, regardless of whether insurance is
involved – it’s important those services are restored
as soon as possible.
“Our
part in these repairs, which have to occur to get the place
running again, is to make sure they are fair and reasonable
and settled on that basis.”
|
Insurance
office is on the job
By
Cpl Jonathan Garland
The newly created Defence Insurance Office has faced significant
challenges in its first months, with staff working long hours to
deal with the aftermath of the Holsworthy and Canberra fires.
All
Defence insurance requirements are managed under the new structure,
which came into being in November last year.
The
Defence Insurance Office formerly existed as the Claims Management
Office in the Defence Legal Service.
Assistant
Secretary Business Services Di Fielding said the new structure was
allowing Defence to better manage its insurance needs.
“To
sit passively and pay out a huge premium each year for a relatively
small return was not a good way to do business,” she said.
“We
now handle all elements of insurance – if we just see the insurance
office as a place to deposit a claim, we’re not managing our
risk effectively.”
The
Insurance Office expects to decrease the size of insurance premiums
by more effectively managing the risks for which Defence insures.
“For
example, we might not always make a claim, just as you might decide
the dent in your car isn’t big enough to pay the excess on
your policy.”
“We’re
collecting data on the claims we make and what effect those claims
have on our premium, so we can make more informed decisions in future.”
“One
of the areas we’re looking at now is fire – it’s
been signalled to us already that the Holsworthy fire will lead
to a re-evaluation of our premium next year.”
In
terms of property/contents, Defence funds the first $1million in
a year – after this level is reached, claims are lodged with
Comcover, with a $50,000 excess on each claim.
Functions
of the Defence Insurance Office include claims management against
and by Defence, insurance queries, risk management, education and
Comcover policy renewal.
Defence
has motor, third party property, general liability, directors and
officers, aviation liability, aviation noise, marine liability and
Defence property contents policies with Comcover.
- For
further information or to report an incident, contact the Defence
Insurance Office on 1800 990 900 or at definsurance@defence.gov.au
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