Royal commission: most bushfire victims died indoors
01 June 2009
Police records have revealed most victims of the Black Saturday bushfires died inside homes and buildings, casting further doubt on the option to “stay and defend...”
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Complaints boost Ombudsman’s staff by 25%
01 June 2009
The Financial Ombudsman Service says soaring numbers of complaints have boosted its workforce by about 25% to just over 200 in the past nine months...
IAG chief warns of rate increases
01 June 2009
Tougher market conditions, increasing natural catastrophes and the global financial crisis are affecting insurers’ earnings, according to IAG CEO Mike Wilkins...
ICA kicks off code review
01 June 2009
The Insurance Council of Australia has appointed former federal Attorney-General’s Department Secretary Robert Cornall to independently review the General Insurance Code of Practice...
Marine insurer sees no sign of cargo theft boom
01 June 2009
A crime syndicate targeting cargo at Melbourne docks is slipping under the radar of marine insurers, according to a local newspaper – but the local market’s largest marine insurer...
QBE confirms it’s still on the prowl
25 May 2009
QBE Australia CEO Terry Ibbotson has confirmed the insurance giant is ready to pounce on any major local acquisition provided it fits the company’s strict acquisition criteria...
Opposition says Victoria’s fire levy must go
25 May 2009
Victoria’s opposition National Party has pledged to review the state’s fire services levy (FSL) and implement a fairer system that if it is elected to government next year...
New headaches from extreme weather
25 May 2009
Insurers are maintaining a “case-by-case” policy on whether last week’s heavy downpours in south-east Queensland and northern NSW constitute flood or storm damage, and the enormity of the affected area is keeping them busy dealing with claims...
Lehman Bros fight to keep insurance secret
25 May 2009
Just days after a NSW local council won the rights to view Lehman Brothers’ insurance policies in its bid to recoup $29 million of lost monies, the investment bank has appealed the decision...
‘Stay or go’ policy under fire at royal commission
25 May 2009
The “stay or go” bushfire response policy came under heavy scrutiny during the second week of hearings at the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission in Melbourne last week...
Workplace safety about managing risk, says OAMPS
25 May 2009
Plans for a national occupational health and safety (OHS) system have merit, but uniformity itself won’t keep workers’ compensation premium costs down, according to broker OAMPS...
NSW nails down home warranty insurance
25 May 2009
NSW has added a fourth trigger to strengthen home warranty insurance as the product faces increased scrutiny from a disgruntled public...
Tickle award WA finalist announced
25 May 2009
WA business development manager Murray Johnson has been selected as the state’s finalist in the Warren Tickle Memorial Award for young brokers...
Insurers need to monitor fraud
25 May 2009
The number of motor theft claims is rising and insurers should carefully monitor the spike for signs of fraud, according to a claims management expert...
CGU chief puts the I in ANZIIF
25 May 2009
The industry needs to do more to attract new talent, says new Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance President Duncan West...
Broker wins award named in honour of late mentor
25 May 2009
A young Victorian broker has paid tribute to her late mentor after winning an excellence award named in his honour...
Thieves develop a taste for motor scooters
25 May 2009
Motor scooters are in fashion with thieves, according to the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council...
Clarification
25 May 2009
In last week’s issue of insuranceNEWS.com.au we quoted an Insurance Council of Australia spokesman saying the council did not have a position on the state taxation issue… “because this is a commercial issue for individual insurers”...
Rises in fire levy rates rile industry
18 May 2009
A dramatic increase in the fire services levy in Victoria and NSW has met with anger from the insurance industry...
Victorian bushfires royal commission hearings begin
18 May 2009
The Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission hearings began last week, and it’s already obvious that warning information was inadequate...