Jeremy Slattery

QBE Underwriting has defended its decision to deny insurance coverage to the builder of Sydney’s troubled Opal Tower development, claiming the cracking was not “major” and did not cause last year’s Christmas Eve evacuation.

Construction group Icon Co has dragged insurers Liberty Mutual Insurance and QBE Underwriting to court for allegedly refusing to provide coverage after the Opal Tower disaster in December last year, which led to thousands of residents being evacuated.