Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) CEO Rob Whelan has accused all levels of government in Queensland for not undertaking flood mitigation works.

In a letter sent to media last week he says “it’s time to consider the fact that local, state and federal governments have over decades failed to carry out appropriate mitigation works and implement suitable land-use planning to prevent floods and protect those Queensland communities most at risk from floods”.

But Ipswich City Council Mayor Paul Pisasale, whose city was badly hit by the January floods, says Mr Whelan is “trying to pass the buck”.

He told the Queensland Times newspaper that Mr Whelan’s letter reveals “stupidity” and thanked him for “showing the council what we’re up against”.

An ICA spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au the letter addressed negative media reports surrounding the insurance industry’s response to the floods, and had been intended as an “opinion piece” for newspapers.

In the letter Mr Whelan says recent articles showing families affected by three floods in a year illustrated the fact that local governments failed to invest in crucial mitigation works to reduce the risk of inland flooding.

He says the fact is the general insurance industry did not cause the floods.

“The devastating effects of the floods would have been dramatically reduced if local governments in Queensland had undertaken critical mitigation and infrastructure work to protect their communities,” he said.

insuranceNEWS.com.au was unable to contact Mr Pisasale for comment today due to a public holiday in Queensland.