Industry stands its ground amid hail of fire
24 April 2017
Critics were lining up to take shots at the insurance industry during two days of Senate inquiry public hearings last week…
Analysis
FENZ levy: fanning the flames of anger
10 April 2017
It took many years to achieve, but politicians, insurers and consumer leaders on the Australian mainland agree that taxes on insurance cause problems, are inefficient and contribute to underinsurance…
The digital dilemma for brokers
03 April 2017
Technological upheaval and shifts in SME buying behaviour show more than ever the need for brokers to deliver high-quality, tailored advice and ensure their role is not swept aside amid a wave of disruption…
Beyond the levy: Fels hits out at price divergence
27 March 2017
Monitoring of the emergency services levy removal from NSW policies has taken an unexpected diversion into wider issues, with data collected for one purpose being used for another – namely criticising insurers for failing to support comparison websites…
Facing up to insurtech
20 March 2017
Insurtech is on its way, and the insurance industry must brace for major change…
Commercial outlook less gloomy in latest profit reports
13 March 2017
Gloomy market commentary has been a feature of insurer’s earnings reports in recent times, but the latest profit-reporting season last month insurers revealed a slightly better picture…
Getting to grips with cyber
06 March 2017
Cyber has been on the insurance industry’s radar for years, and the threat’s significance is well understood…
Government comparator meets aggregate opposition
27 February 2017
Submissions to the Senate inquiry examining whether the general insurance industry needs a government-run home and motor comparison website are pretty clear…
Taking the mystery out of buying insurance
20 February 2017
At first glance the Insurance Council of Australia’s new report into consumers’ insurance-buying habits and misuse of product disclosure statements is merely a restatement of the bleeding obvious…
Tower was teetering and had to be sold
13 February 2017
There seems to be universal agreement – New Zealand insurer Tower is in trouble, and has been for some time…
Rates on the turn, but pressure remains
06 February 2017
Premiums are on an upward path, with the downtrodden commercial class expected to show improvement this year – but the latest JP Morgan Taylor Fry General Insurance Barometer makes clear it’s not the time to be popping champagne corks…
Mitigation message falls on deaf ears
30 January 2017
For years the insurance industry has been united in its message to governments on disaster funding: investing in mitigation now saves more later…
A tough year, and another to come
12 December 2016
The local insurance industry’s fortunes over the past year have been dictated by a stagnant economy and a government playing around the edges…
Inquiry time… again
05 December 2016
“If I have my way, one of the first jobs for a Senate committee will be to look closely at the practices of the whole Australian insurance industry”…
A better hand for insurers, but beware the Trump card
28 November 2016
Swiss Re’s latest outlook for the global insurance market offers hope for stronger premium growth following a tough year ahead, but some curve balls may yet dent the recovery…
The road to transformation
21 November 2016
Digital transformation is a must for the insurance industry, that much is clear…
Mitigation: new sums produce a familiar answer
14 November 2016
Insurers have for years been pleading with governments to protect the nation before a natural catastrophe event by mitigating the risks…
The return of comparative hysteria
07 November 2016
“Protect Aussies against ludicrous insurance fees with price comparison site,” screams a petition on the Change.org website…
Shifting sands
31 October 2016
In a nation that has built most of its prime assets close to the sea, coastal erosion is always going to be a major talking point for Australians…
Could the terror threat go nuclear?
24 October 2016
It’s the worst of worst-case scenarios: terrorists develop the capacity to unleash a chemical, biological, nuclear or radiological attack on a Western city, killing hundreds of thousands and causing unprecedented destruction…