I have predicted that get out of gaol card: Insurers do make themselves look like greedy vultures quite often. Like they will not insure my house for flooding. The lunacy of that is that there has been a house and us on this spot for around 150 years and its never flooded. In fact it would take a dam breech, or a flood of biblical proportions to get it.

The number of country fairs etc. that have been destroyed by them and there astronomical charges is a public disgrace. The idea of insurance is to underwrite risk, not avoid underwriting risk.

SMH May 26, 2024 — 10.14am

QUOTE: About 50 people were evacuated after a fire at an electric bike shop in Chippendale early on Sunday.

Residents reported hearing “popping” sounds and smelling smoke from a small e-bike rental shop on the ground floor of the building on Shepherd Street, near the intersection with Broadway.

Firefighters were called to the shop and forced open a roller door to get in. They found a large amount of smoke and an e-bike battery smouldering inside.

Residents from the three-storey Axis apartments building above the shop were evacuated by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus. No injuries were reported.

The scorched battery was handed over to the owner in a large container of water.