The Australian insurance industry is considering the extent of its involvement in the United Nations-backed Insurance Development Forum (IDF).

The IDF was set up in April to aid global disaster management. It is a public-private partnership between leaders of the UN, the World Bank Group and the insurance industry.

It is based at the International Insurance Society in New York.

The Insurance Council of Australia says it has been briefed on the IDF and will take part in industry talks this month “on the scope of local involvement in the initiative”.

However, it says devising strategies to help Australia’s regional neighbours recover from natural disasters “is the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade”.