The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) will close its Queensland and South Australian offices at the end of this year, leaving branches in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. It’s a big change from 10 years ago, when the insurers’ peak body had full representation in every state and territory capital.

Deputy CEO Dallas Booth says Queensland Manager Graham Jones and South Australia Manager Chris Newland will retire on December 31. However, both ICA veterans will continue to serve as a local point of contact for ICA.

Mr Booth says ICA will continue to support both states. In SA, government and other issues will be serviced by Melbourne-based Regional Manager (Vic/Tas) Peter Jamvold and executives from ICA’s Sydney base, while GM Member Services Robert Drummond and other Sydney executives will assist in Queensland.

ICA’s commitment to the Insurance Disaster Response Organisation (IDRO) will remain unchanged by the closures, Mr Booth says. “Chris and Graham have current roles with IDRO in their states and this will be unaffected.”

The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF), which has staff at both offices, is making its own arrangements for office space.