Pain before gain: cost headwinds arrive ahead of investment boost
02 May 2022
After years of inflation in the doldrums and falling interest rates reducing insurer investment earnings on premium income, the environment is changing in a hurry...
Analysis
'Clarion call' to lift cybersecurity
26 April 2022
Cyber extortion has debuted for the first time on the list of most pressing worries for Australian executives, adding to closely aligned fear of cyber attack and data loss which have taken out the top two spots for the third year running in the annual Directors’ Liability Survey from Willis Towers Watson and law firm Clyde & Co...
Industry faces big challenges after strong rebound last year
11 April 2022
Australia’s general insurance industry made a strong financial comeback last year, after unprecedented pressures caused by the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires and the covid pandemic, KPMG says in a new report...
Preventing floods: what can we learn from Australia’s 'one-in-1000-year' event?
04 April 2022
The recent floods in Queensland and NSW have taken a heavy toll on Australia. However, amidst the losses, valuable lessons can be learned. MD HDI Global SE in Australia Stefan Feldmann, pictured, reflects on how we live with our changing environment...
Plan of attack: industry outlines cyber strategy
28 March 2022
The signs have been there for a while that cyber insurance is heading for trouble...
Satisfaction high but onus on brokers to show worth
21 March 2022
Direct buying is often seen as a cheap and easy pathway, the benefit of personal assistance shines through at claims time, and the pressure is on brokers to prove their value, the latest Vero SME Insurance Index indicates...
Shallow solution: do floods expose pool limitations?
14 March 2022
Devastating floods across Queensland and NSW are shaping up as one of Australia’s worst natural catastrophes on record, with insured losses expected to go well beyond $2 billion...
Cycle of abuse: out-of-home care deemed uninsurable
07 March 2022
State governments are responding to lobbying from providers of out-of-home care with emergency tide-over indemnity after the last of the private insurers exited the complex and difficult space, with no sign they will return...
BI battle: insurers notch test case win as judgment scrutinised
28 February 2022
The Full Court judgment favouring insurers in pandemic-related business interruption disputes has brought more clarity, but a further appeal is possible and there are still class actions in the wings...
'Show me the modelling' becomes cyclone pool catchcry
21 February 2022
Like the famous “show me the money” quote from the Jerry Maguire movie, at the moment it’s a case of “show me the modelling” when it comes to benefits promised from the northern Australia cyclone reinsurance pool...
Legal trends: three key takeaways from 2021
14 February 2022
Law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has pulled together the main learnings from last year’s most significant cases and market developments – a must-read for insureds, brokers and claims advisers...
Power of the press: why claimants often win in media battleground
07 February 2022
We see the headlines every week. An insured customer has their claim denied, they tell their story to the media and it’s portrayed as a struggle between good and evil, brave Aussie battler against heartless and faceless corporation...
Not so simple: data-sharing extension presents challenges
31 January 2022
Greater choice, control and convenience have been promised to consumers under data-sharing reforms rolling out across the economy, but insurers have raised some red flags as the Federal Government forges ahead...
Ten top stories from 2021
13 December 2021
It’s been another challenging year, and the team at insuranceNEWS.com.au has taken great pride in keeping our army of readers up to date throughout...
Cyclone pool details revealed, but questions remain
06 December 2021
The Federal Government has moved at a fast clip to develop a cyclone reinsurance pool, after announcing in May that it would go ahead with the long-debated proposal, with draft legislation released last week providing details while leaving some key questions unanswered...
Fair play: AFCA set for tweaks after positive beginnings
29 November 2021
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority has received a generally positive report card after its first Treasury review, with recommendations aimed at fine-tuning and keeping it on track rather than requiring major changes...
'I'm a builder': QBE chief seeks stability, then growth
22 November 2021
QBE Group CEO Andrew Horton wants a more stable strategy and leadership – and has highlighted areas where the insurer can grow...
Why all this weather? An abbreviated explanation
15 November 2021
Spring and summer can often be unstable seasons in Australia, but as many parts of the country emerge from yet another wild weekend of weather it seems like we’re getting more than our fair share at the moment...
Mission possible: insurers and the race to net zero
08 November 2021
Carbon emission reduction pledges from world leaders will not by themselves save the planet from climate change peril. Similar promises have been made in the past, only to fail dismally, upended by domestic political roadblocks...
Cyber to the fore: industry grapples with viral danger
01 November 2021
Move over COVID. Insurers in Australia and globally have a more pressing viral threat on their radar – one that has already stoked geopolitical fears of a new Cold War that could be fought, not with nuclear weapon launch codes, but with the click of a mouse...