Daily
Virus outbreak creates an AGM issue
27 March 2020
QBE is weighing up available options for its AGM, which is currently slated for May 7, in light of evolving health and government advice related to the COVID-19 pandemic...
ANZIIF cancels insurance industry awards
26 March 2020
The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance has cancelled its industry awards for this year due to the unforeseeable impact of the coronavirus epidemic...
‘Falling fast’: virus hits SME insurance demand
26 March 2020
SME insurance specialist BizCover has released statistics to show the dramatic impact the COVID-19 outbreak and associated containment measures have already had on demand for small business insurance...
Pandemic disruption hands double blow to life insurers
26 March 2020
Australia’s struggling life industry has been dealt another blow as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on the global financial markets, according to S&P Global Ratings...
Bushfire royal commission becomes a virus victim
26 March 2020
The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, better known as the bushfire royal commission, has delayed its first hearing and suspended six planned community forums in response to the COVID-19 pandemic...
Steadfast withdraws earnings guidance
25 March 2020
Steadfast has withdrawn its earnings guidance for this financial year due to implications raised by the coronavirus pandemic...
Pandemic: insurers activate their business continuity plans
25 March 2020
Australia’s three largest insurers have introduced new arrangements such as using live videos to assess claims as the Federal Government moves to considering even tougher measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak...
Essential: insurers stay open as NZ closes down
25 March 2020
New Zealand has some of the toughest COVID-19-related restrictions, but the Ardern Government has declared insurers are an essential service and will remain open for business...
360 Construction agrees to buy Ensurance Underwriting
25 March 2020
Underwriting agency 360 Construction and Engineering has agreed to buy Ensurance Underwriting for $1.1 million, it was announced today...
Calls for travel premiums to be refunded
24 March 2020
Australia’s $1.2 billion travel insurance industry is under pressure to refund premiums paid for cover that will go unused as a result of the shutdown on travel...
Summer losses pass $4.5 billion, but pandemic could hinder claims work
24 March 2020
Insurance losses from catastrophes since the start of the last bushfire season have raced past $4.5 billion, and there are concerns that COVID-19 restrictions could slow down some of the hundreds of thousands of claims...
SUA acts on virus vacancy worries
24 March 2020
Concerns that commercial policy exclusions for unoccupied premises will be triggered by coronavirus shutdowns have caused underwriting agency SUA to address the issue in the Lloyd’s market...
When a flood isn’t: AFCA makes insurer pay
24 March 2020
A Townsville resident who had an IAG insurance policy that specifically excluded flood damage has been told he can claim for repair costs after 10cm of water inundated his business property...
Coronavirus fallout: brokers brace for upheaval
20 March 2020
Insurance brokers fear the next few months, or probably longer, could be very challenging as the worsening coronavirus outbreak in Australia inflicts heavy damage on the economy...
RACV suspends travel cover; Allianz considers changes
20 March 2020
RACV has today suspended sales of new travel insurance policies in the wake of unprecedented government restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus...
Toilet visit cost owner his car and his claim
20 March 2020
A man who left his car running at the front of his business while he went inside to lock up and use the toilet has lost an appeal to have his insurance claim paid after the vehicle was stolen and destroyed...
UK regulator tells insurers how to behave in crisis
20 March 2020
UK regulator the Financial Conduct Authority has laid down its expectations of insurers as the coronavirus pandemic begins to bite businesses and consumers alike...
Floods push summer catastrophe bill to $3.5 billion
19 March 2020
Losses from floods and storms in Queensland and NSW earlier this year have risen dramatically to more than $466 million from 56,418 claims – pushing the total summer catastrophe bill towards $3.5 billion...
Withdrawn: did ASIC step in over FSC’s pandemic statement?
19 March 2020
The Financial Services Council has withdrawn a recent statement it made on behalf of the life industry stating that existing policies have no exclusions for pandemics...
Lloyd’s closes Underwriting Room to prevent virus spread
19 March 2020
Lloyd’s has closed its iconic Underwriting Room following advice from the UK Government on slowing the spread of the COVID-19 virus...