Tenterfield farmer Bronwyn Petrie says her insurance premiums have increased by around 20 per cent since last year and now she no longer insures parts of her farm because it’s too expensive.
Petrie’s family have owned a cattle and timber property for six generations near the north-east regional New South Wales town that has been hit with devastating fires, the pandemic and now, floods – all in the past 15 months.
The 60-year-old says poor regional fire management combined with the drought saw parts of the town burn that had never seen flames before. She lost farm infrastructure and fencing and now pays around $1800 per month for insurance, up from $1500 the previous year.