Victoria earthquake disputes heading to AFCA

28 January 2022

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) says it has received 62 complaints to date related to the Victorian earthquake last September.

The 5.9 magnitude earthquake was felt widely across Victoria and parts of NSW, shaking buildings in Melbourne and causing the collapse of external brickwork at a burger shop in the Chapel St retail area. It was also felt in SA and Tasmania.

Most of the complaints lodged with AFCA relate to denial of claims and whether damage is from the earthquake or pre-existing wear and tear to properties.

“The usual principles of claims investigation apply in earthquake-related claims,” Lead Ombudsman, Insurance Emma Curtis told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“In most cases it will be necessary for an insurer to obtain an engineer’s report to confirm the proximate cause of the damage [that’s] the subject of the claim, unless it is clear the damage was caused by other factors.”

Ms Curtis says the individual circumstances of each claim will vary and AFCA assesses each dispute on its facts.

Geoscience Australia has said it received more than 40,000 “felt reports” in the 24 hours after the earthquake, which struck about 53km from the town of Mansfield and about 27km from the closest settlement of Jamieson.

The reports ranged from personal alarm to building damage, including fallen masonry, cracked walls, and buildings shifted permanently over their foundations.

Media reports this week have highlighted a number of declined claims in the NSW Riverina area, more than 200km from the epicentre.