National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) members have until next week to submit views on proposed changes to the Marine Insurance Act.

The Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand’s proposals aim to align Australia with recent legislative changes in the UK.

Key recommendations centre on the duty of utmost good faith, duties of disclosure and provisions relating to warranties.

“Our assessment of the proposals is that they are reasonable and appropriate, but before taking the matter further we would appreciate the views of members,” NIBA says.

Australian marine insurance laws have closely followed the UK’s since 1909, but this changed when the Insurance Act replaced the Marine Insurance Act 1906 in August, marking the biggest shake-up in commercial insurance contract law in the UK for more than a century.

To comment on the proposals members should email NIBA CEO Dallas Booth at dbooth@niba.com.au by October 14.