Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that households should receive clear and timely advice and settlement of insurance claims, particularly following a natural disaster event.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to support the Bligh Government and the Insurance Council of Australia to take immediate action to improve the performance of insurers by.

1. Strengthening service and accountability standards n the General Insurance code of Practice, including a new requirement for insurer's to assess and decide claims within set timeframes and if overall assessment times are not improved the commonwealth should consider legislating for 'automatic claim approvals' where reasonable assessment timeframes are not met.

2. Allowing the Ombudsman to force insurance companies to 'name and shame' themselves in local and state newspapers where there are repeated and serious breaches of the Code.

3. Introducing benchmarks and penalties for insurers, such as a new requirement that they publish their company's performance record in processing claims and dispute resolution.

4. Increasing obligations on insurers to ensure consumers know what they're buying, including a standard definition of flood and other key insurance concepts, presented in plain English.

5. Encouraging insurance companies to provide local labour options.