B. Public hearings and witnesses

B. Public hearings and witnesses

Wednesday 31 January 2024

VIDEOCONFERENCE

Financial Rights Legal Centre

  • Mrs Julia Davis, Senior Policy and Communications Officer

CHOICE

  • Ms Rosie Thomas, Director of Campaigns and Communications

Consumer Action Law Centre

  • Ms Phillippa Heir, Managing Lawyer

Victorian Council of Social Service

  • Ms Libby Buckingham, Director, Thriving Communities
  • Ms Juanita Pope, Chief Executive Officer

Disaster Legal Help Victoria

  • Ms Sharon Keith, Program Manager

Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria

  • Dr Bronwyn Lay, Strategic Lead, Climate Justice Support Unit

Legal Aid New South Wales

  • Ms Ma'ata Solofoni, Senior Solicitor, Disaster Recovery and Insurance

Legal Aid Queensland

  • Mr Paul Holmes, Assistant Director, Disaster Relief

Thursday 1 February 2024

VIDEOCONFERENCE

Financial Counselling Victoria

  • Ms Tracey Blythe, Disaster Recovery Coordinator
  • Mr Zyl Hovenga-Wauchope, Executive Officer

Anglicare Victoria

  • Ms Laura Powell, Team Leader, Financial Counselling
  • Ms Lylia Martion, Financial Counsellor

Financial Counselling Australia

  • Ms Vicki Staff, National Coordinator, Disaster Recovery
  • Mr Peter Gartlan, National Coordinator

Restoration Industry Association Australasia

  • Mr Marcus Taylor, Head, Advocacy and Industry Communication
  • Mr Owen Boak, President

Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby

  • Mr Tyrone Shandiman, Chairperson

ARC Justice

  • Dr Prue Bagley, Community Engagement Officer
  • Ms Kate Clohesy, Director, Strategy and Impact
  • Mr Damian Stock, Chief Executive Officer

Friday 2 February 2024

VIDEOCONFERENCE

Australian Securities and Investments Commission

  • Mr Nathan Bourne, Senior Executive Leader, Credit, Banking and General Insurance
  • Mr Alan Kirkland, Commissioner

Australian Prudential Regulation Authority

  • Mrs Suzanne Smith, Executive Board Member
  • Mr Jonathan Wood, Head, Insurance Risk

Monday 5 February 2024

VIDEOCONFERENCE or Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

Insurance Council Of Australia

  • Mr Andrew Hall, Chief Executive Officer, Climate, Operations and Strategy
  • Mrs Kylie Macfarlane, Chief Operations Officer, Climate, Operations and Stategy

Suncorp Group

  • Ms Lisa Harrison, Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Insurance
  • Mr Steve Johnston, Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director

Insurance Australia Group

  • Ms Julie Batch, Chief Executive Officer, NRMA Insurance
  • Mr Luke Gallagher, Executive General Manager, Direct Claims
  • Mr Nick Hawkins, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Youi

  • Mr Bert Bakker, Chief Operations Officer
  • Mr Nathaniel Simpson, Chief Executive Officer

Friday 9 February 2024

VIDEOCONFERENCE or Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

Royal Automobile Club of Queensland Limited

  • Mr David Carter, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer
  • Mr Paul Goan, General Manager Property and Niche Claims
  • Mr Trent Sayers, Chief Executive Officer Insurance

Allianz Australia Insurance Limited

  • Mr Brendan Dunne, Chief Customer & Operations Officer
  • Mr Richard Feledy, Managing Director
  • Mr Nicholas Scofield, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer

Wednesday 21 February 2024

VIDEOCONFERENCE

QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd

  • Mr Jon Fox, Chief Claims Officer
  • Ms Sue Houghton, Chief Executive Officer
  • Mr Andrew Ziolkowski, Chief Underwriting Officer

Hollard Insurance Company

  • Mrs Paige Vincent, Chief Operating Officer
  • Mr Paul Fahey, Chief Executive Officer

Australian Financial Complaints Authority

  • Ms Sarah Edmondson, Executive General Manager, Regulatory, Policy and Research
  • Ms Emma Curtis, Lead Ombudsman
  • Mr Justin Understeiner, Chief Operating Officer

Friday 23 February 2024

VIDEOCONFERENCE

General Insurance Code Governance Committee

  • Mrs Joanna Ifield, Senior Manager, Code Compliance, Australian Financial Complaints Authority
  • Mrs Prue Monument, General Manager, Code Compliance and Monitoring, and Chief Executive Officer, Banking Code Compliance Committee, Australian Financial Complaints Authority

Munich Holdings of Australasia Pty Ltd

  • Mr Scott Hawkins, Managing Director

Friday 15 March 2024

VIDEOCONFERENCE

Swiss Re Asia Pty Ltd, Australia Branch

  • Mr David Sinai, Lead Underwriter, Australia and New Zealand
  • Mr Trent Thomson, Chief Executive Officer, Australia and New Zealand

Department of the Treasury

  • Mr Danial Gaudry, Director, Insurance Unit
  • Mr Robb Preston, Assistant Secretary, Banking, Insurance and Credit Branch

National Emergency Management Agency

  • Ms Sophie Cartwright, Assistant Coordinator-General, Resilience Programs
  • Ms Jill Charker, Deputy Coordinator-General, Disaster Resilience and Recovery
  • Ms Karina Menday, Acting Assistant Coordinator-General
  • Mr Andrew Minack, First Assistant Coordinator-General, Policy and Governance
  • Mr Brendan Moon AM, Coordinator-General
  • Ms Shona Rosengren, Assistant Coordinator-General, Resilience Programs
  • Ms Hannah Wandel OAM, First Assistant Coordinator-General, Programs

Lloyd's Australia Ltd

  • Mr Chris Mackinnon, Lloyd's General Representative in Australia

Lloyd's of London

  • Mr David Sansom, Chief Risk Officer

Friday 22 March 2024

VIDEOCONFERENCE

Mr John Trowbridge, Private capacity

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

  • Mr Michael Eady, General Manager, Insurance Monitoring
  • Ms Sarah Proudfoot, Acting Chief Executive Officer and Executive General Manager, Infrastructure Division

Auto & General Insurance Company Ltd

  • Mrs Debora Hartley, General Manager, Home Operations
  • Mr Ram Kangatharan, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Tuesday 9 April 2024

Learning and Business Centre, Caboolture Hub, 4 Hasking St,

Caboolture

City of Moreton Bay

  • Mr Christopher Barnes, Manager, Emergency Management and Public Safety
  • Mrs Shannon Haines, Coordinator, Natural Hazards Planning Branch
  • Mr Scott Waters, Chief Executive Officer
  • Mr Elton Morais, Senior Legal Counsel
  • Mr Daniel Staley, Acting Director, Infrastructure Planning, and Manager, Development Services
  • Mr Allan Charteris, Manager, Drainage Waterways and Coastal Planning

Sunshine Coast Council

  • Mr Jason Membrey, Disaster Management Coordinator
  • Mr Stephen Patey, Strategic Planning Manager

Mr Glen Foran, Private capacity

Mr Karl McKeever, Private capacity

Mr Ken Olsson, Private capacity

Caxton Legal Centre

  • Ms Jacqui Cavanagh, Senior Lawyer, Financial Rights and Housing Security

Pine Rivers Community Legal Service

  • Ms Latha Elenkovan, Principal Solicitor and Manager

Encircle Community Services

  • Ms Karen Rollinson, Service Navigator

Wednesday 10 April 2024

Beenleigh Events Centre, Kent St,

Logan

Community Plus Queensland Inc.

  • Mrs Melinda McInturff, Community Resilience Coordinator

Tenants Queensland

  • Ms Emma Webster, Flood Recovery Solicitor

Eagleby Community and Wetlands Group

  • Mr Edward (Ted) Fensom, Environmental Advisor

TASC National

  • Ms Megan Inglis, Principal Solicitor

Logan City Council

  • Mayor Jon Raven, Mayor
  • Ms Megan Gould, Acting Manager, Road Infrastructure Planning

City of Gold Coast

  • Mr Mark Ryan, General Manager, Disaster and Emergency Management, and Local Disaster Coordinator
  • Mrs Patricia Apps, General Manager, 2032 Games Coordination and Deputy Local Disaster Coordinator
  • Ms Heidi Turner, Coordinator, Disaster and Emergency Management

Ipswich City Council

  • Mayor Teresa Harding, Mayor

Dr Alan Cornick, Private capacity

Ms Linda Fielding, Private capacity

Ms Pamela Hatchman, Private capacity

Mr Kim Norton, Private capacity

Ms Gerowyn Jensen, Private capacity

Mr Jan Sypkens, Private capacity

Thursday 11 April 2024

Invercauld House, 163 Invercauld Rd, Goonellabah,

Lismore

Lismore City Council

  • Mayor Steve Krieg
  • Ms Katherine O'Regan, Head, Investment and Growth

Richmond Valley Council

  • Ms Angela Jones, Director Community Service Delivery

Byron Shire Council

  • Mr Mark Arnold, General Manager
  • Mrs Esmeralda Davis, Director, Corporate and Community Affairs
  • Ms Sarah Boulle, Recovery Coordinator

Clarence Valley Council

  • Councillor Steve Pickering, Councillor
  • Councillor Debrah Novak, Councillor

Tweed Shire Council

  • Mr Danny Rose, Acting Director Engineering

Business NSW

  • Ms Jane Laverty, Regional Director, Northern Rivers Region

Summerland Bank

  • Mr John Williams, Chief Executive Officer

Living School

  • Mr John Stewart, Founder and Conductor

Business Lismore

  • Mr Ben Andersen, President

Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce

  • Mr Matt Williamson, President

Nickel Energy and Hotel Metropole

  • Mr Nick Lake, Director

Our Future Northern Rivers

  • Mr Thomas Trevan, Spokesperson
  • Ms Elizabeth Trevan, Coordinator

Southern Cross University

  • Dr Hanabeth Luke, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Science and Engineering

Mr Le Khanh (Henry) Luong, Private capacity

Ms Aveley McCann, Private capacity

Ms Kate Olivieri, Private capacity

Mr Doug Foskey, Private capacity

Ms Terry Lawrence, Private capacity

Resilient Lismore

  • Ms Elly Bird, Executive Director
  • Mr Jonathan Smith, Field Coordinator

Social Futures

  • Ms Lucie White, Program Manager Service Delivery

Legal Aid NSW

  • Ms Elizabeth Lehmann, Senior Outreach Solicitor, Disaster Response Legal Service

Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre

  • Ms Patricia MacFarlane, Lead Solicitor, Disaster Response and Recovery Team
  • Mr Aran Matkevich, Solicitor

Northern Rivers Flood Action Group

  • Mr Tony Carusi, President
  • Mr Neale Hundy, Owner

Woodburn IGA and Super Cellars

  • Ms Kath Cremin, Secretary and Treasurer

Woodburn Business & Community Chamber

  • Mrs Tania Hundy, Vice-President

Sunshine Sugar

  • Mr Chris Connors, Chief Executive Officer

Ms Joanne Bradbury, Private capacity

Belisa Pty Ltd

  • Mr Richard Jones, Managing Director

Mr Colin McAndrew, Private capacity

Mr Steuart McPherson, Private capacity

Mr Paul Thomas, Private capacity

Ms Peggy O'Connor, Private capacity

Ms Svea Pitman, Private capacity

Richmond River Crane Growers Association

  • Mr Leslie Geoffrey Pye, Chair

New South Wales Parliament

  • Ms Janelle Saffin, Member for Lismore, and Chair, Northern Rivers Community Leaders Forum

Wednesday 17 April 2024

Maidstone Community Centre, 21 Yardley St, Maidstone,

Maribyrnong

Maribyrnong City Council

  • Mayor Cuc Lam, Mayor
  • Mrs Laura-Jo Mellan, Director, Planning and Environment Services

Moonee Valley City Council

  • Mayor Pierce Tyson, Mayor
  • Mr Brett Walters, Director, Strategy and Planning

Maribyrnong Community Recovery Association

  • Ms Madeleine Serle, President

Community Statements

Ms Alison Baumgart, Private capacity

Mr Stan Korkliniewski, Private capacity

Mr Andrew Monteiro, Private capacity

Mr Loc Pham, Private capacity

Westjustice

  • Mr Joseph Nunweek, Legal Director

GenWest

  • Ms Thuy Dang, Community Engagement Officer
  • Ms Wennie van Riet, Project Lead, Mental Health and Wellbeing

Anglicare Victoria

  • Ms Kathryn Swinton, Financial Counsellor

Planning Institute of Australia

  • Ms Jane Keddie, Vice President, Victorian Division

Melbourne Water

  • Mr Michael Ballock, Mission Lead, Urban Planning and Housing Statement
  • Mr Craig Dixon, Executive General Manager, Service and Asset Lifecycle
  • Mr John Woodland, Head, Waterway and Catchment Services South East

Community Statements

Ms Angelika Prpa, Private capacity

Thursday 18 April 2024

Rochester Shire Hall, 45 MacKay St,

Rochester

Gannawarra Shire Council

  • Mr Paul Fernee, Director, Community Wellbeing
  • Ms Jan Palmer, Community Engagement Officer

Greater Shepparton City Council

  • Ms Louise Mitchell, Director, Community

FamilyCare

  • Ms Amy Jones, Manager, Flood Recovery and Family Violence

Rochester Community House

  • Ms Bernadette Wright, Counsellor and Mental Health Support
  • Ms Amanda Logie, Manager

EACH Partners in Wellbeing

  • Mrs Kellie Davis, Small Business Financial Counsellor

Commonwealth Parliament

  • Mr Sam Birrell, Member for Nicholls

Rochester Community Recovery Committee

  • Mr Leigh Wilson, Chair

Mr Trevor Ashforth, Private capacity

Mr Stephen Harris, Private capacity

Mr Daniel Howe, Private capacity

Ms Wilma Howe, Private capacity

Mr Allan MacDonald, Private capacity

Ms Octavia Mackintosh, Private capacity

Mrs Shellei Sibberas, Private capacity

Ms Sarah Thomson, Private capacity

Mrs Maree Traill, Private capacity

Mr Roydon Webb, Private capacity

Friday 19 April 2024

Heathcote RSL Hall, 127 High St,

Heathcote

City of Greater Bendigo

  • Ms Rebecca Maple, Risk and Assurance Adviser
  • Mrs Kim Ross, Emergency Management Officer and Lead Municipal Recovery Manager

Mitchell Shire Council

  • Ms Kellie Massouras, Manager Flood and Community Recovery
  • Mr Casey Southurst, Emergency Management Coordinator

Macedon Ranges Shire Council

  • Ms Amy Holmes, Manager Community Strengthening
  • Mrs Setina Rockliff, Coordinator Risk and OHS
  • Ms Leah Rushford, Coordinator Community Resilience and Recovery
  • Ms Maria Weiss, Director Community

Mount Alexander Shire Council

  • Mr Luke Ryan, Emergency Management Coordinator and Municipal Recovery Manager

Alliance Consulting

  • Mr TR Keller, Managing Director

Go Seymour

  • Mr Stuart Locke, President

Mrs Merilyn Denning, Private capacity

Mr Adam Griffiths, Private capacity

Mr Ellis Knight, Private capacity

Ms Alison Phillips, Private capacity

Ms Michelle Sheehan, Private capacity

Ms Joanne West, Private capacity

Mr Neville West, Private capacity

Tuesday 7 May 2024

Cabonne Community Centre,

Molong

Forbes Shire Council

  • Mr Steve Loane, General Manager
  • Ms Phyllis Miller, Mayor

Cabonne Council

  • Mr Kevin Beatty, Mayor

Cheney Suthers Lawyers

  • Ms Kirsty Evans, Director and Solicitor

Molong Pharmacy

  • Mr Dennis Druve, Manager

Downtown Fitness

  • Ms Heba Elkurdi, Owner

Central NSW Business HQ

  • Mr Rob Drage, Business Adviser

Community Panel

Mr Phillip Davis, Private capacity

Molong Post Office and Newsagency

  • Mrs Kaylene Philpott, Owner, Director and Manager

Mrs Ann-Maree Davis, Private capacity

Community Statements

Mr Kelly Boucher, Private capacity

Mr Peter Crich, Private capacity

Mr David Eccleston, Private capacity

Ms Elise Jaye, Private capacity

Wednesday 8 May 2024

Eugowra Bowling Club, 5 Hill Street,

Eugowra

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes

  • Mrs Louise Cormie, Portfolio Manager, Financial Stability
  • Mrs Carole Shennan, Senior Support Worker, Disaster Relief, and Financial Counsellor

Legal Aid New South Wales

  • Ms Ma'ata Solofoni, Senior Solicitor, Disaster Recovery and Insurance

Parkes Shire Council

  • Councillor Kenneth Keith OAM, Councillor

Eugowra Promotion and Progress Association; Eugowra Flood Recovery Committee

  • Mr Sean Haynes, President; Chair

Community Panel

Mr Joshua Dawson, Private capacity

Mr Sean Haynes, Private capacity

Mr Brian Smith, Private capacity

Mrs Lesley Smith, Private capacity

Community Statements

Eugowra Self-Care Units Committee

  • Mr David Hyde, Chair

Ms Ruth Nielsen, Private capacity

Mr Martin Teml, Private capacity

Mrs Rosemary Townsend, Private capacity

Community Statements

Mr Hugh Ellis, Private capacity

Mr Peter Jones, Private capacity

Mrs Carol Monahan, Private capacity

Mr David Norris, Private capacity

Mr Don Taylor, Private capacity

Thursday 9 May 2024

Richmond Club, Enigma Function Room 1, 6 East Market Street,

Richmond

Hawkesbury City Council

  • Ms Colleen Haron, Floodplain Management Officer
  • Mrs Elizabeth Richardson, General Manager
  • Mayor Sarah McMahon, Mayor

Hawkesbury Chamber of Commerce

  • Ms Gabrielle Benkovich, President
  • Mr Trent McMillen, Vice President

Jubilee Vineyard Estate

  • Mr Ray Hayek, Owner

Turf Growers Association of NSW

  • Mr Paul Saad, Vice President
  • Mrs Jenny Zadro, Executive Officer

Community Statements

Mr Robert Brierley, Private capacity

Mr Sean Carroll, Private capacity

Mr Barry Gill, Private capacity

Mr Scott Hinks, Private capacity

Mr Les Sheather, Private capacity

Ms Cathy Sheridan, Private capacity

Mr William Thorn, Private capacity

Ms Venecia Wilson, Private capacity

Legal Aid New South Wales

  • Ms Rebekah Doran, Senior Solicitor and Project Manager

Community Statements

Wisemen's Ferry Community Men's Shed

  • Mr Warren Lumley, Secretary

Mrs Mary-Anne McGranahan, Private capacity

Mrs Danelle Myers, Private capacity

Mr Paul Stewart, Private capacity

Ms Maureen Valent, Private capacity

Friday 10 May 2024

Mantra Parramatta, Gold and Silver Room , 1 Valentine Avenue,

Parramatta

Northern Beaches Council

  • Mr Ben Fallowfield, Resilience and Emergency Management Coordinator and Local Emergency Management Officer

Central Coast Council

  • Mr Peter Sheath, Acting Unit Manager, Environmental Management
  • Mr Luke Sulkowski, Acting Director, Environment and Planning

Sutherland Shire Council

  • Mr Samuel Perrau, Insurance Officer
  • Mr Anton Usher, Manager, Corporate Governance

CivicRisk Mutual

  • Mr Andrew Armitstead, Chief Executive Officer

Committee for Sydney

  • Mr Sam Kernaghan, Director, Resilience Program

Resilient Sydney

  • Ms Yvette Andrews, Engagement and Strategy Development

Anglicare NSW

  • Mr Magnus Linder, NSW/ACT State Manager, Disaster Recovery

Wednesday 17 July 2024

Aberdeen Room - Paranaple Convention Centre, 137 Rooke Street,

Devonport

City of Launceston

  • Shane Eberhardt, General Manager Infrastructure and Assets Network
  • Lynda Robins, Emergency Management Advisor

Latrobe Council

  • Peter Freshney, Mayor

Kentish and Latrobe Independent Business Association

  • Gordon Williams, Chief Executive Officer

Northern Midlands Business Association

  • Gordon Williams, Chief Executive Officer (as above)
  • Ian Goninon, Chairman

Community statements

Mr Michael Perkins, Private capacity

Mr Geoff Heazlewood, Private capacity

Mrs Pascale Cotterill, Private capacity

Mr Stuart Ritchie, Private capacity

Mrs Felicity Mainwaring, Private capacity

Tamar Action Group

  • Andrew Lovitt, Chair

Anglicare Tasmania

  • Lynne Watson, Program Manager, Financial Resilience & Wellbeing North & North West

Deloraine Football Club

  • Mr Don Tracey, President

Wednesday 24 July 2024

Cairns RSL - Catalina Room, 115-119 The Esplanade,

Cairns

CentaCare Far North Queensland

  • Patrick Sim, Senior Worker Disaster Recovery and Resilience
  • Ross Contarino, Team Leader Operations & Employment

Port Douglas Community Services Network

  • Erin Easton, Family Support Worker

Mossman Support Services

  • Therese Maloney, Community Connect Worker
  • Tahnee De Brueys, Administrator

Advance Cairns

  • Jacinta Reddan, Chief Executive Officer

Cairns Chamber of Commerce

  • Bob Epps, Board Member

Cairns Regional Council

  • Cr Rhonda Coghlan, Councillor
  • Nick Masasso, Director Economic Development & Advocacy
  • Gary Everson, Associate Director Service Delivery
  • Lisa Dendle, Acting Local Recovery Coordinator

Douglas Shire Council

  • Paul Hoye, Acting Chief Executive Officer

Cook Shire Council (by teleconference)

  • Brian Joiner, Chief Executive Officer

Community Statements

Mr John Hannan, Private capacity

Ms Anne Riley, Private capacity

Mr Deryck Thompson, Private capacity

Mrs Claire Heath, Private capacity

Ms Danni Morache, Private capacity

Mrs Carol Danielson, Private capacity

The Third Element

  • Mrs Susan (Sioux) Campbell, Principal

Thursday 25 July 2024

Townsville RSL - Jezzines Function Room, 139 Charters Towers Rd, Hyde Park,

Townsville

Townsville City Council

  • Cr Andrew Robinson, Councillor and Chair of the Disaster Management Committee
  • Zac Dawes, Emergency Management Operations Officer
  • Nyree Bolton, Manager City Growth

Townsville Enterprise

  • Claudia Brumme-Smith, Chief Executive Officer

Townsville Chamber of Commerce

  • Heidi Turner, Chief Executive Officer

Townsville Lot Owners Group

  • Andrew Turnour, Spokesperson

Volunteering North Queensland

  • Margie Ryder, President

FNQ Volunteers Inc.

  • Annette Sheppard, President

Tuesday 30 July 2024

VIDEOCONFERENCE

Sydney Water

  • Kate Miles, Head of System Planning and Land Acquisition
  • Laura Andrews, Insurance and Claims Manager

Australian Building Codes Board

  • Gary Rake, Chief Executive Officer & Head of Division

Standards Australia

  • Kareen Riley-Takos, Chief Operating Officer

Engineers Australia

  • Chris Thomas, Member of Sydney Division Water Engineering Panel

NSW Reconstruction Authority

  • Amanda Leck, Head of Adaptation, Mitigation and Reconstruction

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