Australians will struggle to afford property cover unless governments at all levels step up disaster mitigation efforts, the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) says.

NIBA also wants a co-ordinated strategy for land use planning, building standards and controls to minimise the cost of weather-related events.

Insured losses from Cyclone Debbie, the last super-storm to hit the country, are expected to exceed $1.6 billion, illustrating the impact severe weather events have on communities.

“Weather-related losses are a very significant contributor to the cost of property insurance in Australia,” NIBA says in a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications.

“NIBA has argued very strongly for the need for governments at all levels to have a clear and consistent strategy to mitigate the nature and extent of losses… from major weather events that regularly occur across Australia.

“Property insurance will not remain affordable for the majority of property owners if recent trends in claims costs continue into the future.”

NIBA cites findings from the Productivity Commission’s 2014 report on natural disaster funding arrangements. Insurance losses from natural disasters collectively exceeded $21 billion from 1970-2013 when measured in 2011 dollar terms, the report says.