APRA figures show claims expense bite
23 March 2009
Higher claims expenses were the major reason Australia’s general insurers made a $1.1 billion underwriting loss last calendar year, according to a new report...
Regulatory & Government
Golden handshakes come under the microscope
23 March 2009
Insurance executives are among those who will have their termination benefits capped to be equivalent to their annual base salary under new company legislation announced...
New building standards to improve resilience to bushfire
16 March 2009
The Victorian Government has introduced tough new building standards to help save lives and property in the wake of the devastating Black Saturday bushfires...
Bushfire royal commission to meet behind closed doors
16 March 2009
The Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission will host a series of community meetings behind closed doors – a decision criticised by the state’s opposition and media...
ASIC takes hard line on advisers
16 March 2009
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission will take a “deeper role” in instilling investment principles in financial advisers...
Actuaries outline financial reform proposals
16 March 2009
The appointment of a national chief risk supervisor is among actuaries’ proposals for reform in the financial services industry...
Thumbs up for Tasmania public liability trial
16 March 2009
State governments are being encouraged to follow Tasmania’s lead and trial public liability cover for all groups using public education facilities...
Worksafe Victoria posts $1.4 billion loss
16 March 2009
WorkSafe Victoria claims it’s continuing to hit its key targets despite posting a $1.42 billion loss in the second half of last year...
ASIC awaits report on Storm
16 March 2009
A report to creditors later today could decide whether or not collapsed financial advice group Storm Financial is put into liquidation...
Spiralling fire services levy halted – for now
09 March 2009
NSW fire services levies remain generally unchanged after the latest review, with some insurance-buyers likely to get a marginal decrease in charges...
Financial crisis hot on regulator’s lips
09 March 2009
Australia’s financial services industry will not be immune from the effects of the global financial crisis, according to speakers at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission summer school...
Government looks to insurers for midwife PI cover
09 March 2009
A Federal Government maternity report has raised the debate of whether insurers should be offering professional indemnity insurance to midwives...
Storm sparks parliamentary inquiry
02 March 2009
The Federal Government has launched a parliamentary inquiry into recent corporate collapses in Australia after the collapse of Storm Financial in January ruined thousands of investors...
New regulatory powers for APRA
02 March 2009
The Federal Government has announced new measures to regulate the non-operating holding companies of life insurers – a move which will give courts more power to issue injunctions on prudential matters...
Emergency phone warning systems a step closer
02 March 2009
The Federal Government has announced plans to legislate for a national telephone-based emergency warning system used to help prevent losses from natural disasters...
Controversy over SA WorkCover premiums
02 March 2009
SA Greens MLC Mark Parnell says the State Government is planning to cut employer WorkCover premiums in July – a move he says amounts to “economic vandalism”...
Leave financial services alone: Pearce
23 February 2009
New financial services sector regulation borne out of the global financial crisis could do more harm than good, according to Federal Opposition financial services spokesman Chris Pearce...
National OHS system faces uphill battle: lawyer
23 February 2009
A leading occupational health and safety lawyer says a national streamlined OHS system is still some way off, despite publication of a final report...
Rental car insurance faces reform under new consumer laws
23 February 2009
Rental car insurance policies face reform under new consumer legislation designed to protect consumers...
Government leans on insurers
16 February 2009
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has pledged to monitor insurance companies’ performance in the wake of the Victorian bushfires...