New brands growing faster than major players: Roy Morgan
20 May 2013
New general insurance brands are expanding their customer bases at the expense of traditional market leaders, according to researcher Roy Morgan…
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Environmental toll is rising, says Hartwig
20 May 2013
A rising toll of natural catastrophes has hit the cost and availability of insurance coverage in parts of Australia, says Insurance Information Institute President Robert Hartwig…
Victorian clients give mixed response to FSL savings
20 May 2013
The end of Victoria’s fire services levy should prompt an increase in insurance coverage as premiums fall, but brokers report a mixed response so far from clients…
Government postpones aged care bond insurance plan
20 May 2013
The Federal Government has delayed a requirement for aged care homes to insure residents’ bond payments…
High Court reinforces ruling on medical negligence
20 May 2013
The High Court has dismissed a medical negligence case against a surgeon, in a decision that provides certainty to the insurance industry…
July reinsurance prices to remain flat, Munich Re predicts
13 May 2013
Australian cedants hoping for lower reinsurance costs from July 1 could be disappointed, with Munich Re expecting a “stable price” in the region’s key renewals period…
Rising capacity will drive lower rates: Aon
13 May 2013
Insurance premiums in some Australian commercial markets may fall after an easing trend emerged last year, Aon says…
Risk Frontiers joins cat modelling partnership
13 May 2013
Australian natural hazards research centre Risk Frontiers has joined forces with US group Risk Management Solutions on a new open platform built exclusively for insurers…
Trade credit claims drop, but collection activity rises
13 May 2013
Trade credit insurance claims fell 9% in the first quarter, according to the latest report from National Credit Insurance Brokers…
Affordability still a key issue, says ICA
13 May 2013
Insurance affordability will continue to be a “hot-button issue”, according to Insurance Council of Australia CEO Rob Whelan…
S&P applies new criteria to Australian insurers
13 May 2013
Credit ratings for QBE, IAG and Suncorp and more than 2000 other insurers, reinsurers and subsidiaries are under review by Standard & Poor’s after the agency released new criteria for the sector…
FSL Monitor warns of premium increase ‘exploitation’
13 May 2013
Insurers in Victoria could be sneaking in large premium increases under the cover of the fire services levy (FSL) reform, according to FSL Monitor Allan Fels…
Insurers can help with mould menace, NZ residents told
13 May 2013
Canterbury homeowners should contact their insurers if they are affected by creeping mould from liquefied soil caused by the earthquakes, according to the Insurance Council of New Zealand…
Catastrophe losses continue to climb
06 May 2013
Claims from last summer’s Queensland floods have reached $939 million, up from $908 million last month, according to the Insurance Council of Australia…
Christchurch rebuild costs up by $NZ10 billion
06 May 2013
The New Zealand Treasury has revised its estimate of the total capital cost of the Christchurch rebuild to $NZ40 billion ($33.2 billion), up from $NZ30 billion ($24.9 billion) last December…
WA considers crop insurance aid for farmers
06 May 2013
The WA Government will look at crop insurance products as part of a $7.8 million aid package to farmers on the state…
Victoria drops stamp duty and GST from new fire levy
06 May 2013
The Victorian Government will not impose stamp duty or GST on the property charge that replaces the fire services levy from July 1…
NSW land valuation changes may aid levy change
06 May 2013
A state parliamentary committee has recommended improvements to NSW’s land valuation system, potentially paving the way for changes to emergency services funding…
Builders’ warranty insurance headed for government/agency model
06 May 2013
Private insurers’ involvement as underwriters in the builders’ warranty insurance market is diminishing as insurers find the segment is no longer viable…
NZ tornado claims top $7 million
06 May 2013
Insured losses from a tornado that hit Hobsonville in Auckland in December total $NZ8.7 million ($7.2 million), according to the Insurance Council of New Zealand…