Insurers have begun assessing claims of destruction as Australia suffers through unprecedented bushfires.

The Insurance Council of Australia has revealed claims have climbed to $700 million after over 1500 properties were lost this bushfire season.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has said 20 per cent of the 8500 insurance claims lodged across the nation had been processed and half had been settled.

Mr Frydenberg tells John Stanely local tradespeople need to be involved in rebuilding.

“I emphasised to them the importance of using local tradesmen because we need to see the creation of jobs in these local communities once the fires have ended.”

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Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson Campbell Fuller tells John Stanley recovery efforts are underway.

“The industry has been embedded in bushfire recovery since early September.

“They have people on the ground in four states already attempting to undertake assessments or looking at the scopes of work.”

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Image: Getty/Bloomberg