Andrew GEE MP INDEPENDENT FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CALARE TOUGH TALK ON SUPERMARKETS HOT AIR FROM THE MAJOR PARTIES "he news that a government review has recommended that the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct should be made mandatory, and that breaches should be met with fines upwards of $10 million or 10% of a company's turnover just seems like more hot air from the major parties. The Code of Conduct is a dud. Making it mandatory will have no effect whatsoever if it was effectivewe wouldn't be having endless inquiries to tell us what we already know that farmers and consumers are being ripped off, I don't think these latest proposals will have much effect at all. During the last sitting of Parliament, all of the major parties had the opportunity to vote for the Reducing Supermarket Dominance Bil introduced by Bob Katter and the Independents that would wind back the market share of the supermarket glants and limit the markups they could put on items like fruit and vegies. None of them supported it-proving once again that there is often a lot of talk in Canberra but not a lot of action For all the nasty, personal insults thrown at Bob Katter and I during our recent press conference in Orange when we were trying to discuss this issue, there has been no meaningful action by the National, Liberal or Labor parties. And they just don't like it when they get called out on their hypocrisy. Is it any wonder that people get cynical with political parties and politics? Bob with Molly at Orange De-Servies Your Country Your Voice STORM AND FLOOD INSURANCE INQUIRY UPDATE Response of Inquiry int Response of Insurers to the Storm and Flood event of November 2022 is well underway. By the end of this week, there will have been 12 public hearings which aim to put the behaviour of insurers under the microscope, and highlight the experiences of policyholders before, during and after making claims. I pushed hard to get this inquiry set up, and even raised it in Question Time by asking the Prime Minister whether he would back my calls to get the investigation off the ground. PUBLIC HEARINGS-QBE INSURANCE Earlier this year, I questioned the CEO of QUE Insurance Australia, Ms Sue Houghton, about the company's treatment of a gym owner in Molong Ms kurd of Downtown Fitness, who had to wait four months after the storm and floods to receive a hydrology report - drastically holding up the claims process. I pressed Ms Houghton on whether insurance companies really understand what businesspeople and homeowners are going through and what the delays really mean Mr Gee: It took about a month to get a hydrology assessor in to the premises. The hydrologist came on 12 December. The storm and floods hit on 13 and 14 November. There was a delay there. I've seen the report. It's one and a half pages. It took three months to g to get that report drafted and sent to Ms solicitor. It's not really very satisfactory, is it? Ms Houghton: It's not, I agree with you; it took too long to get that report. Once the hydrologist had visited, to then receive the report, to share it and then to make a decision on the back of it took too long in that case. Mr Gee: The impact it had on someone like Ms Elkurd is she had to close her business but still had to meet financial commitments on the gym equipment, which had been destroyed. A four-month delay just to get e hydrology report, which was basically holding up claims, has a huge impact on businessowners like her because they can't move on. They're waiting on this claim to be processed, but they can't because a simple thing like a Iydrology report isn't prepared in a timely manner. Ms Houghton: Yes, I agree with you. It does impact small businesses. I'm really well aware of that. It's not what we would strive to do...it's not acceptable for people to have to wait for long periods for a report for them to be paid. I understand that's a big impact on small business Mr Gee: The hydrologist's report is 1% pages long. It's not War and Peace. I'm just wondering why someone couldn't pick up the phone from QBE to this hydrologist and say. We have a business owner who's devastated in Molong. We need to get this claim moving. We'd like your report on the double." Does that happen at QBE? What's the story there? Ms Houghton: It does happen. We look at the file and can see contact is made throughout the process, but it wasn't effective enough in actually getting that report and being received by this customer. There were definite delays, which are not what we aspire to... CENTRAL WEST TO SHARE ITS EXPERIENCES IN EUGOWRA AND MOLONG On Tuesday the 7th of May, the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Response of insurers to the Storm and Flood event of November 2022 will have a public hearing in Molong to hear locall stories. On Wednesday 8 Max, the inquiry will Sisten to the experiences of people from the Canowindra/Eugowra area If you have an insurance experience that you would like told from the November 2022 floods, we'd like to hear from you. Please attend the hearing! Please give my office a call on 63617138. This is our chance to tell our local stories and hopefully bring some lasting change to this Industry We need to put a spotlight on this issue, so please give us a call and have your voice heard! The submissions portal and the online survey remain To complete the survey. scan the QR code or head to: www.aph.gov.au/ floodinsurance CENTRAL WEST SCHOOLS VISIT PARLIAMENT HOUSE! ecently, it was great to welcome Rstudents from many schools in the region to Parliament House! It was fantastic to meet students from O'Connell Public School, Meadow Flat Public School, Sofala Public School, Black Springs Public School, Rockley Public School and Wattle Flat Public School. The groups asked some brilliant questions. including How many years did it take to build Parliament House? Did the decision to help Ukraine get made in Parliament? What's my favourite law that has been made? I hope you had a terrific time on your tour of the big house and enjoyed the rest of your travels around the capital BATHURST ELECTORATE OFFICE 107 George Street PO Box 54 Bathurst NSW 2795 (02) 6331 0524 andrew.gee.mp@aph.gov.au www.andrewgeemp.com.au For regular updates and news, follow me on Facebook and Instagram @andrewgeecalare Authorised by Andrew Gee MP, Suite 1/179A Anson Street, Orange, NSW 2800. f Andrew GEE MP INDEPENDENT FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CALARE TOUGH TALK ON SUPERMARKETS HOT AIR FROM THE MAJOR PARTIES " he news that a government review has recommended that the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct should be made mandatory , and that breaches should be met with fines upwards of $ 10 million or 10 % of a company's turnover just seems like more hot air from the major parties . The Code of Conduct is a dud . Making it mandatory will have no effect whatsoever if it was effectivewe wouldn't be having endless inquiries to tell us what we already know that farmers and consumers are being ripped off , I don't think these latest proposals will have much effect at all . During the last sitting of Parliament , all of the major parties had the opportunity to vote for the Reducing Supermarket Dominance Bil introduced by Bob Katter and the Independents that would wind back the market share of the supermarket glants and limit the markups they could put on items like fruit and vegies . None of them supported it - proving once again that there is often a lot of talk in Canberra but not a lot of action For all the nasty , personal insults thrown at Bob Katter and I during our recent press conference in Orange when we were trying to discuss this issue , there has been no meaningful action by the National , Liberal or Labor parties . And they just don't like it when they get called out on their hypocrisy . Is it any wonder that people get cynical with political parties and politics ? Bob with Molly at Orange De - Servies Your Country Your Voice STORM AND FLOOD INSURANCE INQUIRY UPDATE Response of Inquiry int Response of Insurers to the Storm and Flood event of November 2022 is well underway . By the end of this week , there will have been 12 public hearings which aim to put the behaviour of insurers under the microscope , and highlight the experiences of policyholders before , during and after making claims . I pushed hard to get this inquiry set up , and even raised it in Question Time by asking the Prime Minister whether he would back my calls to get the investigation off the ground . PUBLIC HEARINGS - QBE INSURANCE Earlier this year , I questioned the CEO of QUE Insurance Australia , Ms Sue Houghton , about the company's treatment of a gym owner in Molong Ms kurd of Downtown Fitness , who had to wait four months after the storm and floods to receive a hydrology report - drastically holding up the claims process . I pressed Ms Houghton on whether insurance companies really understand what businesspeople and homeowners are going through and what the delays really mean Mr Gee : It took about a month to get a hydrology assessor in to the premises . The hydrologist came on 12 December . The storm and floods hit on 13 and 14 November . There was a delay there . I've seen the report . It's one and a half pages . It took three months to g to get that report drafted and sent to Ms solicitor . It's not really very satisfactory , is it ? Ms Houghton : It's not , I agree with you ; it took too long to get that report . Once the hydrologist had visited , to then receive the report , to share it and then to make a decision on the back of it took too long in that case . Mr Gee : The impact it had on someone like Ms Elkurd is she had to close her business but still had to meet financial commitments on the gym equipment , which had been destroyed . A four - month delay just to get e hydrology report , which was basically holding up claims , has a huge impact on businessowners like her because they can't move on . They're waiting on this claim to be processed , but they can't because a simple thing like a Iydrology report isn't prepared in a timely manner . Ms Houghton : Yes , I agree with you . It does impact small businesses . I'm really well aware of that . It's not what we would strive to do ... it's not acceptable for people to have to wait for long periods for a report for them to be paid . I understand that's a big impact on small business Mr Gee : The hydrologist's report is 1 % pages long . It's not War and Peace . I'm just wondering why someone couldn't pick up the phone from QBE to this hydrologist and say . We have a business owner who's devastated in Molong . We need to get this claim moving . We'd like your report on the double . " Does that happen at QBE ? What's the story there ? Ms Houghton : It does happen . We look at the file and can see contact is made throughout the process , but it wasn't effective enough in actually getting that report and being received by this customer . There were definite delays , which are not what we aspire to ... CENTRAL WEST TO SHARE ITS EXPERIENCES IN EUGOWRA AND MOLONG On Tuesday the 7th of May , the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Response of insurers to the Storm and Flood event of November 2022 will have a public hearing in Molong to hear locall stories . On Wednesday 8 Max , the inquiry will Sisten to the experiences of people from the Canowindra / Eugowra area If you have an insurance experience that you would like told from the November 2022 floods , we'd like to hear from you . Please attend the hearing ! Please give my office a call on 63617138 . This is our chance to tell our local stories and hopefully bring some lasting change to this Industry We need to put a spotlight on this issue , so please give us a call and have your voice heard ! The submissions portal and the online survey remain To complete the survey . scan the QR code or head to : www.aph.gov.au/ floodinsurance CENTRAL WEST SCHOOLS VISIT PARLIAMENT HOUSE ! ecently , it was great to welcome Rstudents from many schools in the region to Parliament House ! It was fantastic to meet students from O'Connell Public School , Meadow Flat Public School , Sofala Public School , Black Springs Public School , Rockley Public School and Wattle Flat Public School . The groups asked some brilliant questions . including How many years did it take to build Parliament House ? Did the decision to help Ukraine get made in Parliament ? What's my favourite law that has been made ? I hope you had a terrific time on your tour of the big house and enjoyed the rest of your travels around the capital BATHURST ELECTORATE OFFICE 107 George Street PO Box 54 Bathurst NSW 2795 ( 02 ) 6331 0524 andrew.gee.mp@aph.gov.au www.andrewgeemp.com.au For regular updates and news , follow me on Facebook and Instagram @andrewgeecalare Authorised by Andrew Gee MP , Suite 1 / 179A Anson Street , Orange , NSW 2800 . f