Agencies ‘counter top-heavy industry’
28 June 2010
The emergence of underwriting agencies is helping to counter the “top-heavy” nature of the Australian general insurance market, according to Lloyd’s Asia-Pacific Regional Manager Keith Stern…
Local
Insurance Fraud Hotline nears launch date
28 June 2010
The director of a new private insurance fraud hotline says the service is intended to fill an industry void and is not designed to make money…
Rises ‘rational’ as market hardens
21 June 2010
Insurers have taken a rational approach to a bevy of natural catastrophes this year in setting June 30 renewals, according to insurance brokers…
NZ insurers wary as fraud rises
21 June 2010
New Zealand insurers are casting a more scrupulous eye over claims as cases of car theft and arson continue to show signs of rising…
Calliden departs Victorian builders’ warranty market
21 June 2010
Calliden has announced it will exit the market for builders’ warranty insurance in Victoria, leaving QBE as the last insurer standing…
NZ apartment owners sue for $10 million
21 June 2010
Owners of a Wellington apartment block are seeking $NZ12.7 million ($10.28 million) in damages to repair the complex they say is poorly constructed…
HIH tax cut revives Henry hopes
15 June 2010
The abolition of a key NSW Government insurance tax has raised hopes other levies may also be up for review…
General insurance profits improved in ’09
15 June 2010
General insurance sector profitability bounced back from the lows of 2008 to top $3.086 billion last year…
Commissions banned on Queensland CTP cover
15 June 2010
Suncorp is confident it can continue to make money from compulsory third party motor cover in Queensland following a reduction in premiums…
Private midwife insurance ‘expensive and unfair’
15 June 2010
The Federal Government’s professional indemnity insurance for privately practising midwives has come under fire for being too expensive and excluding women…
Former insurance leaders honoured
15 June 2010
Former IAG CEO Mike Hawker leads a triumvirate of former insurance executives taking out top honours in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for 2010…
Innovation ‘could hit broker commissions’
07 June 2010
Brokers have been warned that increasing automation in commercial insurance and the introduction of innovations like comparative quoting could lead to lower commissions and greater opportunities…
Rates easing, says Marsh
07 June 2010
Rising profitability and surplus capacity are combining to ease the pressure on premium rates, according to leading broker Marsh…
Insurers on the ground in Bay of Plenty
07 June 2010
Heavy rains last week battered NZ’s Bay of Plenty region, causing damage to more than 160 homes and businesses…
Queensland flood challenge continues to mount
07 June 2010
A lawyer acting for Queensland flood victims whose claims have been denied has signed up around 60 policyholders to challenge the findings…
Budget Direct wins personal lines award
07 June 2010
Direct personal lines insurer Budget Direct has taken out Money magazine’s “Insurer of the Year” award…
Suncorp stands firm on comparison site lockout
31 May 2010
Suncorp will sustain “strenuous resistance” to aggregator websites despite conceding it’s fighting a losing battle over increasing commoditisation of personal insurance…
QBE and Calliden prop up WA warranty scheme
31 May 2010
QBE and Calliden will ensure the maintenance of the privatised builders’ warranty insurance scheme in WA…
ANZIIF seminar feeds commission debate
31 May 2010
Steadfast Group Chairman Robert Kelly says any ban on broker commissions by the Federal Government could compromise consumer choice…
Eruption is a pre-existing condition. says travel insurer
31 May 2010
Travellers purchasing insurance since the eruption of the volcano in Iceland will not have disruptions to their travel due to this event covered under their policies, an insurer has warned…