Liberal MP wants Coalition to expand $10bn scheme supporting insurers to cover all natural disasters

Warren Entsch says recent natural disasters have made the case to expand the federal government’s $10bn cyclone reinsurance pool. Photograph: Peter Wallis/Getty Images

The Morrison government should expand its $10bn cyclone reinsurance pool in northern Australia to cover natural disasters – including catastrophic floods and bushfires – in other parts of the country, according to the scheme’s principal architect.

The veteran Liberal MP Warren Entsch campaigned for the scheme for more than a decade before Scott Morrison ultimately agreed to implement a reinsurance pool for northern Australia, backed by a $10bn government guarantee, which aims to protect more than 500,000 properties.