General News
5 February, 2026
Victorian Bushfires claims above $200m
As fire-impacted property owners come to terms with their losses and face an uncertain future, they must also navigate the often uncharted waters of insurance claims. Claims to date had reached $200 million, at the time of publishing, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.
An ICA spokesperson provided their assurance that insurers are prioritising claims from Victorians impacted by the bushfires.
"Claims are expected to continue to be lodged as access is restored and home and business owners return."
They said insurers had been present in Castlemaine, Harcourt, Natimuk, Seymour, Skipton, and Yea to support impacted policy holders through the claims and recovery process, and will look to move into other areas once it is safe to do so.
However, many property owners have paid their premiums for years.
Still, they may not have experience lodging a significant claim, let alone one for the total loss of homes, possessions, property, and income.
While property owners face the daunting task of poring over their charred properties, some say they have had difficulty obtaining details about their policies and have been concerned about estimates for replacing what they have lost, as well as whether they have a choice of builders and repairers.
If you have lost your policies in the fires, you can still lodge a claim without your policy by contacting your insurer and providing your name, address, and birth date.
This information will enable the insurer to access the electronic copy of your policy, and your claim can then be prepared even if you don't know the full extent of your losses.
You can then access a copy of your original policy or policies, and if you are in doubt about your policy or what you are covered for, ask for help.
The ICA, however, said anyone impacted by the fire who has not yet lodged a claim should do so.
As part of the insurance claim process, they advise claimants to take photos or a video of the damage to their property and contents, including possessions, to support their claim; this is all dependent on the degree of damage, and your insurer will understand that.
Your insurer will also be able to advise you on whether you can claim temporary housing expenses, too.
"While insurers are continuing their strong focus on Victoria, safety is the utmost priority," ICA chief executive Andrew Hall said.
"These bushfires very much remain an ongoing event, and I encourage Victorians to follow the advice of emergency services.
"Being here on the ground, you can understand the true scale and impact of these fires, and the devastation they have caused.
"Insurers are working hard to support impacted customers and are already making plans to revisit Victoria for face-to-face consultations in the coming weeks.
"Anyone who has damage and is yet to make a claim, I encourage them to get in touch with their insurer to commence the claims process, even if the full extent of the damage remains unknown."
The ICA also warn people to check with their insurer before undertaking any clean-up activities. This includes any building work or emergency repairs, because your policy may not cover unauthorised work.
"We [council] are here for the long haul, reach out to council, or to individual councillors if you need help, and that includes wellbeing help," Horsham Rural City Council mayor Brian Klowss said.
"This recovery process will take a long time; there are a lot of unknowns to navigate in the process, and we are here for you.
"I know firsthand the toll this can take, so please ask for whatever help you need."
If in doubt about who to contact for additional information about the recovery process, Horsham Rural City Council is the facilitator in Disaster Recovery, and staff can help you with contact details for the relevant services.
What has your experience been in claiming on your insurance since the Natumuk, Quantong, Vectis, and the surrounding districts fire on January 9?
I'd like to hear from you . sheryl.lowe@wmnews.com.au.