Suncorp is running a 10-week program of Mobile Disaster Response Hubs in South East Queensland (SEQ) to handle increased claims from recent severe weather, including ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and multiple hailstorms. The hubs, staffed by claims personnel, will rotate through 18 locations and remain in affected communities until June. They are set up to offer face-to-face assistance for customers and small businesses with more complex claims or those in the early stages of assessment and repair.
Suncorp chief executive consumer insurance Lisa Harrison said the deployment is occurring amid ongoing financial pressures for many policyholders. “We know it’s a challenging period for our customers amid ongoing inflationary and everyday cost of living pressures, made worse by fuel supply and rising costs. We are working closely with our builders and car repairers to monitor the impacts of the Middle East conflict and tradie shortages. Right now, though, we are committed to deploying our people and resources in some of the hardest-hit communities to progress claims and help people recover,” Harrison said.
The mobile hubs form part of Suncorp’s broader operational response to the SEQ events, which have produced a mix of home, contents and motor claims, from relatively minor damage through to more extensive structural impacts. The units have recently been located in Tingalpa and Tweed Heads and have now moved to Capalaba and Currumbin, where they are scheduled to remain through Friday, April 24. On-site staff are assisting customers with claim documentation, assessment queries, and the steps involved in repairs.
Harrison said: “We’re seeing strong progress on claims so far, with in-person conversations resolving issues and reassuring customers. Claims for ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred are almost complete, with a positive 95% now closed, representing the vast majority of claims from this event. We are prioritising the remaining more complex claims, and ensuring our customers know we are here until the job is done. By placing our people on the ground and providing face-to-face conversations, we can progress claims and help impacted families return to normal life sooner.” Suncorp’s digital lodgement channels, call centres, and case management services will continue to operate alongside the mobile hubs for customers managing claims remotely.
The insurer’s initiative coincides with new figures from the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) showing a sharp increase in catastrophe-related losses. Updated ICA analysis indicates extreme weather events generated $4.8 billion in insured losses in 2025, a 727% rise on the previous year, with more than $4.1 billion of that total arising from Queensland events. Insurers handled 294,000 claims from declared extreme weather events, nearly six times the prior year, and the average cost per claim increased 39% to $16,471.
A severe November storm and hail outbreak across Queensland and New South Wales is now the largest event of 2025 by insured loss, overtaking ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The system has led to almost 93,000 claims totalling $1.78 billion, affecting both motor and property risks, including vehicle panel and glass damage, fallen trees, and water ingress to homes. Severe spring storms that affected South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales earlier in November have generated almost $900 million in losses across 41,200 claims. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred remains the event with the highest claim count, with more than 133,000 claims lodged and losses of $1.5 billion.
According to the ICA, the increase from its earlier estimate of $3.5 billion in 2025 extreme weather losses to the current $4.8 billion is largely due to additional claims and higher recorded costs from the major storm and hail events, reflecting the development profile typically associated with these perils. Total economic costs from extreme weather in 2025, including insured and broader economic impacts, are estimated at more than $8.6 billion. Insured extreme weather losses were $2.35 billion in 2023 and $585 million in 2024, underscoring the variability of annual catastrophe outcomes.
