The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has taken two federal MPs to task over “ill-informed” criticism of the industry.

Bob Katter, who represents the Queensland seat of Kennedy, slammed insurers in Parliament over “skyrocketing” premiums in the state.

He says the rises “cannot be actuarially justified”, claiming the cost of cyclones is falling and this is proven by statistics – citing damage from Cyclone Larry in 2006 at $1.5 billion and Cyclone Yasi in 2011 at $800 million.

Mr Katter also criticised the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission inquiry into high premiums in the north, demanding more concrete action.

“This is a futile waste of taxpayers’ money and an insult to their intelligence – another excuse for the Government to remain idle on actually making a decision,” he said.

But an ICA spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au Mr Katter has his facts wrong.

Insurance Council figures put losses for Cyclone Larry at $540 million and Yasi at $1.4 billion. And Cyclone Debbie, which struck in March this year, has now caused insured losses of $1.57 billion, demonstrating the trend is upwards, not downwards.

Member for Dawson George Christensen, who previously criticised the response to Debbie, has demanded ICA and insurers go to the Whitsundays region to “explain themselves”.

Mr Christensen told Parliament there have been “appalling” cases of poor treatment, with insurers dragging out claims.

“More than six months on, there are hundreds, if not thousands of insurance claims still not settled,” he said. “Meanwhile, people are living in damaged homes and going to work in damaged workplaces.”

But the ICA spokesman says an offer to meet with Mr Christensen has been ignored.

“The industry has received just a handful of complaints from his office and they have been dealt with,” the spokesman said.

ICA says more than 80% of claims from Cyclone Debbie have now been completed.