⏱️This edition of the National Account’s newsletter is a four-minute read.

👋 G’day everyone, Archie here.

We’re gonna crack straight into the news today 🗞️

❝

I would encourage any policyholders who’ve been impacted to get in touch with their insurer to lodge a claim, even if they haven’t returned home and don’t yet know the full extent of the damage.

Insurance Council of Australia Deputy CEO Kylie Macfarlane

🗣️ Why did she say that?

There have been nearly 1400 insurance claims made less than a week after the fires in Victoria burned large chunks of the state.

The fires have burned across 404,000 hectares, or a total area more than five times the size of Singapore, according to the state control centre.

The insurance council expects that 30 percent of the property claims are complete losses.

For my full breakdown check out today’s video:

Around the Grounds 🦘

Across the country, things are happening at a local level that have an impact nationally. Here’s the stories you might not hear about in the traditional media.

🏠 Flood risk didn’t scare buyers

In Western Victoria, Warrnambool City Council has sold three homes previously flagged as flood-prone for $1.3 million, despite past warnings they had “suffered inundation”.

The council bought the properties decades ago because of flood risk, but has now shifted redevelopment and insurance risks to the private market.

Read that story by clicking below 👇

Despite previously “suffering inundation”, Warrnambool Council’s flood-prone homes fetch $1.3m

While voting to endorse the sale, Councillor Richard Ziegler previously warned “buyer beware”.

www.westvicbrolga.com.au/p/warrnambool-koroit-street-houses-sale

🏥 No doctors without childcare

In the NSW Mid North Coast town of South West Rocks, a growing GP shortage is being driven by a lack of childcare.

The local medical centre is losing two doctors in two months, with one GP relocating so her child can access childcare elsewhere.

Locals say without basic services like childcare, regional towns will keep struggling to attract and retain doctors, no matter how badly they are needed.

Read that story by clicking below 👇

This MNC town is waiting on doctors and childcare, but without one it may never get the other

Seascape Medical Centre loses two GPs in two months.

www.themidnorthcoaster.com.au/p/mid-north-coast-coastal-town-waiting-on-doctors-and-childcare

🦉 The rat poison killing Australia’s wildlife

Second-generation rat poisons used by some councils can spread through the food chain, killing native owls, birds and other animals.

A 2021 study found rat poison in almost every powerful owl tested, yet the products remain legal and are still used by councils on Sydney’s North Shore.

With bans overseas and a federal review now underway, pressure is growing to phase them out in Australia

Read that story by clicking below 👇

This rat poison is wreaking havoc on Australian ecosystems, so why are North Shore councils still using it?

A 2021 study analysing the livers of dead powerful owls found 37 of 38 contained rat poison.

www.northshorelorikeet.com.au/p/this-rat-poison-is-wreaking-havoc-on-australian-ecosystems-so-why-are-north-shore-councils-still-usi

Invisible risk 🥵

Today I had a great chat with the Eastern Melburnian’s Matthew Sims, who gave some insight into his recent reporting on what effects heatwaves can have on our public transport network.

In this snippet below, Matt tells me about extreme heat sometimes having less obvious impacts than those of fires, floods, etc. We tend not to take heat as seriously as we should.

I’ll have our full chat on our YouTube channel tomorrow, and in Friday’s newsletter!

Thanks for catching up with me. I hope you enjoyed this issue, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Just reply to this email and I’ll be on the other side 👋

I’ll be back on Friday.

Cheers, Archie

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