Daily
Pool alone won’t solve affordability problem: ACCC
31 October 2024
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is pressing for more action on insurance affordability as climate change increases the frequency and severity of weather events and some homeowners and small businesses go without cover...
Hotel cleared of blame over ‘unexpected’ assault
31 October 2024
A pub has avoided liability for a customer’s assault on another patron after a court ruled it could not have been expected to identify or act on the attacker’s drunken state...
Scientists demand ‘adaptation now’ as climate risk grows
31 October 2024
Australia is experiencing longer fire seasons and more frequent extreme heat, plus more intense rainfall, scientists say...
‘Clearly incorrect’: engineer challenges AFCA ruling on lifted pool
31 October 2024
An engineer says the complaints authority should not have ordered an insurer to pay a disputed swimming pool claim that was declined because a hydrostatic pressure exclusion referred to “gravity”...
Tribunal backs workers’ comp claim for puppy fence tumble
30 October 2024
A council employee who broke her arm at home after tripping over a fence used to keep a puppy away from her pet rabbit has won a workers’ compensation dispute...
Onus on boards to tackle fairness concerns, actuaries say
30 October 2024
Fairness to customers should be “a given” and “put on a pedestal” by insurers, the Actuaries Institute says...
Car owner pays price for open invitation to thieves
30 October 2024
A policyholder whose car was stolen from a family gathering will not be covered after he was found to have left the vehicle unattended, unlocked and with the keys inside...
INsight podcast: commercial rates continue to fall
30 October 2024
Marsh's latest commercial rates index is the main topic of conversation on the latest episode of the Insurance News podcast...
‘Offence against the community’: fraudster jailed for faking death
29 October 2024
A Perth gym owner who collected a life insurance payout of more than $700,000 after faking her own death was yesterday sentenced to three years in jail...
Regulator calls for ‘quick work’ on AI governance
29 October 2024
Financial services companies must comply with current obligations when deploying artificial intelligence and avoid “simply waiting” for AI-specific regulations to be introduced, the industry watchdog says...
Cover Genius hails first fully automated claim
29 October 2024
Insurtech Cover Genius says it has completed a car rental insurance claim entirely using technology, including optical character recognition...
Missing receipts mean tourist denied cover after drive-by theft
29 October 2024
A traveller who said his bag was swiped by thieves on a motorcycle has lost a claims dispute after failing to show he owned the items that were reported stolen...
‘Bill shock’ drives premium complaints to AFCA
25 October 2024
The industry dispute referee says it is receiving complaints from insurance policyholders about “significant” premium increases of 60%-200%...
ASIC weighs flood probe report after consumers ‘let down’
25 October 2024
Australian Securities and Investments Commission chair Joe Longo says more than 20 flood inquiry recommendations directed at the regulator will be carefully considered, as it also looks at using its claims handling powers for enforcement action...
A matter of some gravity: dispute panel rejects pool exclusion
25 October 2024
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority has ruled Allianz was wrong to apply a “hydrostatic pressure” exclusion on a claim for a damaged swimming pool – because the insurer's definition referred to gravity...
Vero, GIO name RM Advancer winners
25 October 2024
Bega Cheese and Costa Group have been named winners of the 16th RM Advancer Awards, which recognise exceptional risk management among Vero and GIO workers’ compensation clients and brokers...
‘Huge step’: Victoria repairs crumbling builders’ warranty scheme
24 October 2024
Victoria’s much-criticised builders’ warranty insurance will be reformed to provide greater “first resort” protection for consumers...
‘Positive developments’ as commercial rates drop further
24 October 2024
Commercial insurance rates in the Australia-dominated Pacific region have continued a downward trend, dropping by 6% in the third quarter, according to Marsh’s premium index...
Flood inquiry action can drive down premiums, MP says
24 October 2024
Implementing the parliamentary flood inquiry’s recommendations would put downward pressure on premiums despite insurers having to “lean in a bit more” in some areas, committee chairman Daniel Mulino says...
AFCA boss ‘disappointed’ as insurers slow to improve
24 October 2024
Australian Financial Complaints Authority CEO and chief ombudsman David Locke says many insurers are yet to make significant progress addressing claims handling delays, and a lack of action in the sector is “disappointing”...