Interest in a class action against the owner of the Hazelwood open-cut mine “has really gone quiet” since an inquiry into the recent fire there began, according to local broker Alan Wilson.  

“The finding will determine if a class action or any action will be taken,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

The inquiry, led by Justice Bernard Teague, began public hearings on May 26. It is to submit a final report to the Victorian Government by the end of August.

The mine fire in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley raged from February 9 to March 25. Many nearby residents complained of associated respiratory and other health problems, which led to community meetings and social media campaigns calling for legal action against the mine owner, French energy giant GDF Suez.

The law firm most often associated with a potential case has been Slater & Gordon, but its Morwell Practice Group Leader Stephen Plunkett says there has been no formal move.

Earlier in the year the firm received “a number of enquiries” from residents affected by smoke and ash from the Hazelwood mine fire.

No legal action will be launched while the inquiry is ongoing, Mr Plunkett says.

“At this stage we are just awaiting the findings of the Teague inquiry.”

Traralgon-based Alan Wilson Insurance Brokers has undertaken voluntary work with the Morwell and Latrobe Valley communities, advising residents on how to make claims and resolve disputes with insurers.

Mr Wilson says all but a handful of claims have been settled.

He says he hopes the insurance industry has learned from the fire, and praised Suncorp for making ex-gratia payments of $5000 to residents whose policies technically precluded them from coverage.

He is also hopeful that consumers have become more knowledgeable about insurance.

“I’m not sure if the public really has learned that you pay for what you get. The majority have purchased direct and cheap insurance [so] they do not have representation to the insurance company and [the] cover is more restrictive than products brokers offer because it’s cheap.

“Underinsurance and non-insurance is also an issue, but I am not sure how we get over this.”