Victoria budget funds building reforms
09 May 2022
The Victorian state budget has provided almost $20 million to strengthen building standards and to address workforce shortages...
Regulatory & Government
SIRA launches new return to work standard
02 May 2022
The NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority has implemented a new Standard of Practice on the early management of claims and return to work...
APRA letter outlines cyclone pool treatment
02 May 2022
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has written to general insurers about its plans to clarify capital implications from the new government-backed cyclone reinsurance pool...
NZ launches climate change adaptation plan
02 May 2022
The New Zealand Government has launched a draft National Adaptation Plan aimed at helping communities adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change...
AFCA updates progress on Independent Review
02 May 2022
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority has launched a new webpage providing information on its response to last year’s Independent Review...
Questions answered on Financial Claims Scheme
02 May 2022
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has released an updated set of frequently asked questions to provide information about the Financial Claims Scheme for general insurance...
Insurance disputes lead NSW/Queensland floods complaints: AFCA
26 April 2022
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority says insurance makes up most of the disputes it has received to date in relation to the NSW/Queensland floods...
Northern Rivers reconstruction body to lead recovery
26 April 2022
Reconstruction of Lismore and northern NSW communities hit by flooding will be co-ordinated by a corporation that will formally come into effect from July, the State Government says...
Flood-hit states take action to ease tradie shortages
26 April 2022
Queensland is offering financial incentives to encourage tradies to travel to the state to carry out flood rebuilding work, while NSW is cutting licensing red tape to facilitate cross-border movement of skilled labour...
Federal Court finalises penalties in Westpac actions
26 April 2022
The Federal Court has penalised Westpac a total of $113 million after last week wrapping up six separate civil proceedings filed in November over issues related to general insurance and other financial services...
Limit determined for icare premiums, tender evaluations begin
26 April 2022
The NSW Government says it has issued a direction to state-owned insurer icare to limit the average premium rate increase for workers’ compensation to 2.9% to ensure predictability and stability for business...
Youpla fund complaints rise to more than 700
26 April 2022
The number of financial complaints lodged against four Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund companies, known as the Youpla group, has increased to more than 700...
Chris Black appointed Earthquake Commission Chairman
26 April 2022
Chris Black, who recently retired as CEO of New Zealand rural insurer Farmers’ Mutual Group, has been appointed chairman of the Earthquake Commission...
Federal backflip ensures Queensland flood package funding
11 April 2022
The Federal Government has agreed to co-fund a Queensland $771 million flood recovery package after coming under fire for previously declining a request to share the expense...
APRA consults further on new accounting standard AASB 17
11 April 2022
The prudential regulator is conducting another round of insurance industry consultation in preparation for the commencement of a new accounting rule, the Australian Accounting Standards Board 17 Insurance Contracts (AASB 17), on January 1 next year...
ACT offers CTP refund to cushion living cost pressures
11 April 2022
The ACT Government will refund compulsory third party insurance premiums to motorists as part of efforts to alleviate living cost pressures...
WA Government accepts most bushfire review recommendations
11 April 2022
An independent review into the Wooroloo bushfire in WA last year has made 13 recommendations including continuing with efforts to enhance current risk management initiatives and improve community education...
ASIC warns of tougher penalties after Westpac action
11 April 2022
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission says companies mis-selling insurance could face higher penalties in future, after Westpac was ordered by the Federal Court to pay $1.5 million over the sale of add-on products to consumers who had not agreed to buy the policies...
Emergency Response Fund tapped for flood resilience
04 April 2022
The Federal Budget has boosted resilience funding, while focusing mainly on disaster recovery and support following the Queensland and NSW flooding catastrophe, as insurers continue to push for increased mitigation spending...
Cyclone reinsurance pool passes Senate after flood debate
04 April 2022
The Federal Government cyclone reinsurance pool is on track to start from July after the Senate last week passed the legislation, while rejecting an amendment to immediately extend its cover to all flooding...