Family of nine abandoned by heartless QBE Insurance
2nd November, 2011
LAST night in Federal Parliament, Leader of the Nationals and Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss exposed QBE Insurance for its heartless rejection of a claim by a local family, devastated by the loss of their home in 2009.Within three hours of insulation being installed in the ceiling of the Tiaro home of Ricky Walker, his partner Billeena Chapman and their then-six children, the home was reduced to a smouldering wreck of stumps, ash, scorched and twisted iron.
The insulation was provided under the now notorious Federal Government’s Home Insulation Program.
Almost two years ago, Ms Chapman and her children were lucky to escape with their lives, fleeing from the flames that gutted their old Queenslander within minutes of the fire starting (17 November 2009).
Businesses that installed insulation were required by the Government to take out insurance to cover any damage caused to property as a result of the installation, and in this instance, the policy was with QBE Insurance, which has refused the Walker’s insurance claim.
“Despite repeated representations from Mr Walker and me, QBE has refused to pay compensation for the Walker family’s losses,” Mr Truss said.
“I find it incredible that QBE is asking the family to believe that it is just a coincidence that a 100-year-old house burnt down just three hours after installation was installed.”
QBE’s rejection of their claim comes despite a Queensland Fire and Rescue finding that:
‘On the balance of probabilities (it is more likely than not), this fire was a direct result of the installation of ceiling insulation. Queensland Fire and Rescue cannot make a more conclusive determination.’
“Ms Chapman was watching television when the smell of smoke wafted up the stairs from the laundry and she went to investigate, at approximately 12:30pm. The timber home in Copenhagen St, Tiaro, was totally destroyed within minutes of the fire breaking out, with the family losing everything they owned in the blaze,” Mr Truss said.
“Suddenly finding themselves homeless and unaware of local support services, they tried to manage the situation as best they could… living in a tent, a shed and emergency accommodation for quite some time before seeking assistance from my office.”
Mr Walker made a Right to Information request in an attempt to gain a better understanding about the cause of the fire.
According to the fire report, the fire started in the laundry area. That was where the electrical switch box was located. If the installation of the insulation interfered with the home’s electricity cables, whether they were disturbed, broken, stapled, cut or shorted, it is reasonable to conclude that it could have caused a fire to start in the switch box.
An internal email exchange between Queensland Fire and Rescue Officers on 6 September 2010 revealed that the origin of the fire would have been recorded as ‘ceiling space’ if the national warning that followed news that 200 homes across the country burned down under similar circumstances had been received earlier.
“Today, I again urge QBE to have a heart. It’s not too late to do what is patently obvious and pay the Walker family’s claim,” Mr Truss said.
“Mr Walker and I have been keen to work with QBE in good faith and the company has always been courteous. But this decision is unfair and the company needs to be dragged into the light. The evidence that the insulation installation caused this devastating fire is strong.”
[ENDS]
