SME index: now for the good news
22 May 2017
The first tranche of results from Vero’s annual SME Insurance Index earlier this year made sobering reading for brokers, showing that demand for their services has declined…
Analysis
Mitigation: still nobody listening
15 May 2017
The argument is simple: Australia should invest in disaster mitigation now, and save billions of dollars later when the inevitable cyclones and floods strike…
Domestic violence: spotlight falls on insurers
08 May 2017
Family violence is a major problem, with former Australian of the year Rosie Batty describing it as an “epidemic”…
Debbie exposes hole in cyclone defences
01 May 2017
The damage wrought by Cyclone Debbie has again highlighted insurance affordability worries in northern Australia, exposing a lack of action by the Federal Government, which has left decisions on the issue languishing for more than a year…
Industry stands its ground amid hail of fire
24 April 2017
Critics were lining up to take shots at the insurance industry during two days of Senate inquiry public hearings last week…
FENZ levy: fanning the flames of anger
10 April 2017
It took many years to achieve, but politicians, insurers and consumer leaders on the Australian mainland agree that taxes on insurance cause problems, are inefficient and contribute to underinsurance…
The digital dilemma for brokers
03 April 2017
Technological upheaval and shifts in SME buying behaviour show more than ever the need for brokers to deliver high-quality, tailored advice and ensure their role is not swept aside amid a wave of disruption…
Beyond the levy: Fels hits out at price divergence
27 March 2017
Monitoring of the emergency services levy removal from NSW policies has taken an unexpected diversion into wider issues, with data collected for one purpose being used for another – namely criticising insurers for failing to support comparison websites…
Facing up to insurtech
20 March 2017
Insurtech is on its way, and the insurance industry must brace for major change…
Commercial outlook less gloomy in latest profit reports
13 March 2017
Gloomy market commentary has been a feature of insurer’s earnings reports in recent times, but the latest profit-reporting season last month insurers revealed a slightly better picture…
Getting to grips with cyber
06 March 2017
Cyber has been on the insurance industry’s radar for years, and the threat’s significance is well understood…
Government comparator meets aggregate opposition
27 February 2017
Submissions to the Senate inquiry examining whether the general insurance industry needs a government-run home and motor comparison website are pretty clear…
Taking the mystery out of buying insurance
20 February 2017
At first glance the Insurance Council of Australia’s new report into consumers’ insurance-buying habits and misuse of product disclosure statements is merely a restatement of the bleeding obvious…
Tower was teetering and had to be sold
13 February 2017
There seems to be universal agreement – New Zealand insurer Tower is in trouble, and has been for some time…
Rates on the turn, but pressure remains
06 February 2017
Premiums are on an upward path, with the downtrodden commercial class expected to show improvement this year – but the latest JP Morgan Taylor Fry General Insurance Barometer makes clear it’s not the time to be popping champagne corks…
Mitigation message falls on deaf ears
30 January 2017
For years the insurance industry has been united in its message to governments on disaster funding: investing in mitigation now saves more later…
A tough year, and another to come
12 December 2016
The local insurance industry’s fortunes over the past year have been dictated by a stagnant economy and a government playing around the edges…
Inquiry time… again
05 December 2016
“If I have my way, one of the first jobs for a Senate committee will be to look closely at the practices of the whole Australian insurance industry”…
A better hand for insurers, but beware the Trump card
28 November 2016
Swiss Re’s latest outlook for the global insurance market offers hope for stronger premium growth following a tough year ahead, but some curve balls may yet dent the recovery…
The road to transformation
21 November 2016
Digital transformation is a must for the insurance industry, that much is clear…