WA emergency management set for overhaul
22 August 2011
An inquiry into February’s Perth bushfires has called for greater co-ordination between emergency services and other government agencies in responding to disasters…
Regulatory & Government
WA joins move to drop age barriers
22 August 2011
Age will no longer be a factor for WA’s workforce following the abolition of age-based limits on workers’ compensation claims…
Inquiry hears of insurance delays and policy confusion
15 August 2011
Delays and confusion about policy wordings are recurring themes in two WA submissions to the House of Representatives inquiry into the operation of the insurance industry during disasters…
ASIC applauds industry on claims-handling
15 August 2011
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has commended the insurance industry on its handling of motor claims…
Skyscrapers out in new Christchurch city plan
15 August 2011
Christchurch City Council has approved a draft new city plan that will see buildings in the central business district restricted to seven storeys…
Quake report calls for risk-based approach to building
15 August 2011
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure caused by the Canterbury Earthquakes has received its first technical report, which discusses earthquake standards and moving building…
Australia sticks with solvency date
15 August 2011
Delays to Solvency II implementation in Europe will not affect Australia’s timetable for increased capital standards…
FMA expands leadership and compliance teams
15 August 2011
The NZ Financial Markets Authority continues to build its leadership teams and has also expanded its professional conduct committee for advisers…
Shorten wavers on commissions but keeps stamp duty
08 August 2011
Commissions on life insurance sold within superannuation might have survived the legislators’ axe, but the Federal Government won’t be doing anything to disturb the states’ stamp duty on…
My Super could be good news for insurers
08 August 2011
The Federal Government’s push to create a simple superannuation fund product – My Super – is an opportunity for life insurers…
Europe delays Solvency II
08 August 2011
The European Parliament has proposed delaying the Solvency II deadline to January 1, 2014…
Insurance tax removal on the agenda
01 August 2011
The Federal Government has put insurance taxes back on the national tax reform agenda, saying it’s an inefficient way to collect revenue…
ASIC tries to explain scaled advice for all
01 August 2011
Brokers will be included in the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s new proposed regulations on scaled advice…
Further delays hit report on state government insurance
01 August 2011
The Senate report into state government insurance arrangements and the flood levy has been delayed for the third time, due to a further hold-up by the Queensland Government…
Parliamentary insurance inquiry goes to WA
01 August 2011
The federal parliamentary inquiry into the insurance response to natural disasters will hold its first public hearings this week when it convenes in WA…
Christchurch earthquakes: Royal Commission gets 62 expressions of interest
01 August 2011
The inquiry into the Christchurch earthquakes has received 62 expressions of interest from people wanting to participate…
Work together on resilience, says minister
01 August 2011
Federal Attorney-General Rob McClelland says creating a resilience strategy for natural disasters is not just the Government’s responsibility…
Insurance contracts stay on IASB’s agenda
01 August 2011
Accounting standards for insurance contracts will remain a priority as the International Accounting Standards Board looks at its future strategic direction…
APRA scores well in satisfaction survey
01 August 2011
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has recorded some favourable scores in satisfaction ratings from the organisations it oversees…
ICA and Suncorp call for advising reforms
25 July 2011
The Insurance Council of Australia and Suncorp have urged the Federal Government to consider changing the advice regime under the Corporations Act to enable insurers to provide more flood…