Risk is any factor that affects aspects of your insured property, such as structural integrity, safety or security. It is the responsibility of consumers to appropriately protect their property from risk.
Some insurance policies require consumers to honestly evaluate their own risk, while others will be evaluated by the insurer. The honest evaluation of risk is essential to determine insurance claims. In some rare instances, claims can be denied due to inappropriate evaluation of risk.
Consumers are the best judge of their own risk and most risk mitigation are common-sense actions to safeguard insured property and people who depend upon its integrity.
Insurance cannot prevent events that damage property; its role is to offer a level of financial protection and help property owners recover. On a community level it is the responsibility of governments to provide appropriate mitigation measures to help protect Australians from risk posed by natural disasters such as floods, bushfires and cyclones. These include appropriate town planning, building codes and taxation, and physical infrastructure.