East coast flood victims still fighting insurers

Legal Aid NSW is reminding residents on the east coast of NSW that free legal help is available following the 2025 floods, with people encouraged to speak to a lawyer about their insurance claim. 

New data from Legal Aid NSW shows that from May 2025 to present, Legal Aid NSW has provided over 1,700 services in the region.  

Locals are encouraged to seek advice over insurance claims and disputes, housing and tenancy, financial hardship, workplace rights, government disaster grants and other legal problems. 

“We don’t just help with insurance. If your life is disrupted in any way because of a disaster – for instance, through loss of employment – we can help. If you’re unsure if you have a legal issue you can check with us, we’re here to help.” 

“We can also help people as they navigate whether they are eligible for the various disaster response grants.” 

Senior outreach solicitor, disaster, Dominique Brown, said many people are only now ready to seek legal advice12-18 months after the 2025 floods. 

"Many people are only really emerging from the crisis stage of the disaster now. They’re having insurance claims rejected or dealing with housing or tenancy issues despite more than a year having passed since the floods." 

Ms Brown said it's essential that people get legal advice if their insurer denies a claim, because they may still be eligible for compensation. 

"Even if people have had a claim approved or denied, we encourage them to seek a review as they could be entitled to more." 

Case study 

85-year-old Taree resident Natasha's* property was extensively damaged during the 2025 Mid-North Coast floods. Her insurer denied her claim, arguing that floodwater was the cause of the damage, and flood was excluded from Natasha’s policy.  

When Natasha contacted Legal Aid NSW she was living in a motel that she was paying for from her aged pension and was trying to organise repairs herself. Natasha advised her solicitor that a lot of the damage occurred before the flood, during a storm, which was covered by her policy. Legal Aid NSW successfully argued to the insurer that they were liable to cover storm damage to our client’s home and contents.  

In October 2025, the matter settled for around $90,000, with the insurer agreeing to cover significant storm damage to the property and temporary accommodation allowances. 

Legal Aid NSW can help people affected by disaster in Armidale, Bellingen, Central Coast, Cessnock City, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog Shire, Kempsey Shire, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, MidCoast, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Valley, Newcastle, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Singleton, Upper Hunter and Walcha. 

People affected by the east coast floods can access free legal help by calling 1800 801 529 9am–5pm, Monday to Friday. 

*A pseudonym has been used to protect the client's identity 

Dominique Brown is available for interview.