Insurance News Wrap

Paige Estritori presents the Weekly Insurance News Wrap on behalf of Financial Services Online from November 21, 2025. The episode highlights the Australian Financial Complaints Authority's criticism of TAL, a major life insurer, for discontinuing a policyholders benefits without prior notification. The immense financial impact of mental health claims on insurance systems, estimated at $18.5 billi...

On this week's Insurance News Wrap, we discuss recent developments in Australia's insurance and agriculture sectors. Insurance Australia Group has partnered with Ag Guard to elevate crop insurance with advanced tech and innovative products for rural customers. WFI Insurance has joined forces with AgCarE to offer insurance premium discounts to farmers who integrate carbon and biodiversity benefits...

In this episode, Paige Estritori discusses major news in the insurance industry. Notably, Insurance Australia Group and Ag Guard are partnering to improve crop insurance, offering technological enhancements and custom solutions from next year. The Insurance Council of Australia presents a plan to reduce motor insurance costs by addressing labor shortages and high repair expenses. Also highlighted...

This podcast summary from Financial Services Online reveals important Australian insurance news: The Insurance Council of Australia is working to control soaring motor insurance costs with a new strategic roadmap, necessitated by a 42% surge in premiums since 2019. Costs are highdue to rising repair expenses and payouts. In other news, the National Truck Accident Research Centre report finds inatt...

In this episode, Paige Estritori brings updates from Australia's insurance industry. Notably, the Insurance Council of Australia proposes key reforms such as the axing of a nine percent stamp duty and comprehensive land-use planning, aimed at decreasing insurance costs and mitigating large-scale insurance claims. BizCover warns New South Wales builders about compulsory Professional Indemnity Insur...

This week's episode of Financial Services Online discusses critical aspects of travel insurance and recent findings in the Australian insurance market. It explores the concerning statistic that a significant 14% of Australians travel uninsured, often due to misconceptions about insurance. The podcast underlines the importance of understanding policy exclusions, particularly around high-risk activi...

In this episode of the Weekly Insurance News Wrap, we discuss major developments within the Australian insurance sector. Private equity firm EQT has proposed a $5.25 billion acquisition of AUB Group, a move that could shape real estate and insurance policies. Meanwhile, Sure Insurance has increased its residential strata insurance coverage from $5 million to $20 million, providing opportunity for...

This week's financial services podcast, hosted by Paige Estritori, highlights significant developments in the insurance sector. A new business interruption insurance offered by Marsh and Tokio Marine Kiln addresses global shipping challenges, providing a financial safety net against trade disruptions. The emergence of AI in the marine insurance landscape was a key topic at the IUMI conference, wit...

This episode of Financial Services Online's podcast discusses several current topics in the Australian insurance industry. Key highlights include an expected rise in motor insurance premiums due to increasing repair costs, and initiatives to improve mental health coverage in life insurance policies. Meanwhile, storm and flood damages have led to a surge in home insurance claims and consequently, p...

In this podcast, Paige Estritori of Financial Services Online, discusses principal human factors behind Australian truck crashes, reveals major insurance sector updates, and holds the insurance claims process to account. A National Truck Accident Research Centre report highlights inattention and distraction as leading causes of crashes, pointing to a need for improved safety measures. In the insur...

In the Weekly Insurance News Wrap, we discuss key stories from the Australian insurance sector, starting with Insurance Australia Group's (IAG) report on rising home insurance costs due to climate change, impacting homeowners and tradespeople. IAG advocates for stronger building standards, resilient infrastructure, and effective risk management to mitigate these impacts. We also cover Suncorp's im...

In this episode of the Weekly Insurance News Wrap (hosted by Paige Estritori on behalf of Financial Services Online), important Australian insurance industry updates are explored. First, a key ruling by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) rejected an Australian man's claim for a refund of 3,612 AUD from Latitude Finance, demonstrating AFCA's commitment to transparency in financial...

In this Weekly Insurance News Wrap podcast, Paige Estritori covers top issues in Australia's insurance sector. Sydney's insurtech firm, Upcover launches a new management liability insurance product for SMEs and sole traders to protect them financially from employment disputes, tax audits, crimes, and legal claims. Meanwhile, competition is seen increasing in the professional indemnity insurance se...

In this episode of 'Weekly Insurance News Wrap', host Paige Estritori updates us on key developments in the Australian insurance sector. The federal and state governments have set up initiatives to lower insurance premiums and increase cyclone resilience for Queensland's strata property owners, including the Cyclone Reinsurance Pool and a Strata Resilience Program, funded by a $40 million grant. T...

In this episode of Financial Services Online's Weekly Insurance News Wrap, Paige Estritori reports key developments in personal and business insurance. After cyclone Harvey, insurance claims have surged and consumers are advised to document damage comprehensively for quicker claim resolutions. In the business sector, an Australian bill aims to address superannuation underperformance potentially pr...

In this episode, Paige Estritori discusses significant trends in the Australian insurance industry including a surge in mental health-related Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) claims, representing one third of total claims and a 700% increase in the past decade for Australians in their 30s. The Australian Super fund faces scrutiny over slow processing speeds for insurance claims potentially lea...

This Financial Services Online podcast with Paige Estritori summarizes the week's significant events in the Australian insurance industry. The Swedish giant EQT made a landmark bid of A$5.25 billion for AUB Group, a development that could stimulate further industry consolidation if successful. Also, AIG Australia was fined $30,000 by the Insurance Code Governance Committee for failing to communica...

This week's Insurance News Wrap discusses significant trends and updates in the insurance industry. Insuregroup, a specialist insurance brokerage, marks a significant milestone in policy processing for the trucking industry, representing a 25% increase from last year. This surge corresponds with an uptick in motor collision claims as the transport sector grows, leading to improved risk management...

In this week's update from the Australian Insurance industry, Paige Estritori discusses the challenges witnessed by life insurers in the Total and Permanent Disability domain, particularly arising from an increase in mental and musculoskeletal health claims. She points out Swiss Re's call for innovation in the sector in response to these conditions. Paige also notes the significant growth of Insur...

In this episode, Paige Estritori covers the latest in insurance news for Australia's construction and travel sectors. There's a silver lining for hardworking tradies as intense competition among insurers drive down construction insurance premiums by 5-15%. However, insurers are maintaining strict underwriting for risk management. The episode suggests that tradies regularly review their policies, r...

This week's insurance news wrap includes significant AI investment in the Australian and New Zealand insurance sectors for enhanced risk management and operational efficiency. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority is preparing for big regulatory changes in 2025, aimed at reinforcing industry sustainability and resilience. Due to a surge in natural disasters, Australian insurers are invest...

This week's Insurance News wrap-up features several key happenings. A ruling by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) involving QBE Insurance and a restaurant owner over an undisclosed criminal record has underscored the need for clear communication between insurers and policyholders, setting the pace for possible industry-wide change. Despite solid profit gains, Insurance Australia...

On this week's Financial Services Online podcast, Paige Estritori reports on key developments in Australia's insurance sector. Notably, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) ordered QBE Insurance to honour an arson claim from a restaurant, earlier denied due to the director's non-disclosed criminal history, highlighting the importance of full disclosure and clear communication betwe...

This week's episode of Financial Services Online with Paige Estritori covered recent developments in the insurance industry. An important ruling by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority highlighted the necessity of transparency and full disclosure in insurance claim disputes, following an initially denied arson claim. Insurance Australia Group reported a remarkable 91% increase in net prof...

In this episode, Paige Estritori from Financial Services Online discusses key Australian insurance industry developments. The Australian Financial Complaints Authority intervened in a claim dispute between a restaurant and QBE Insurance, underlining the importance of full disclosure when applying for insurance. Despite a good financial year, Insurance Australia Group warns of higher premiums due t...