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Insurance News
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New WHS figures sharpen the risk picture for tradies New WHS figures sharpen the risk picture for tradies
11 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Safe Work Australia’s latest Key Work Health and Safety Statistics, released on 12 October 2026, provide a fresh reminder that construction remains one of the country’s highest-risk work environments. The national data records 41 construction worker fatalities in 2025 and shows construction accounted for 11.7% of serious workers’ compensation claims in 2024-25, making the figures directly relevant to trade businesses reviewing safety systems, contracts and insurance arrangements. - read more
Mallee Hail Is a Sharp Reminder About Harvest-Time Insurance Gaps Mallee Hail Is a Sharp Reminder About Harvest-Time Insurance Gaps
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A damaging hailstorm across Victoria’s Mallee has turned a promising harvest into a difficult insurance and cash-flow test for affected grain growers. ABC Rural reported on 6 November 2026 that hail swept through districts including Birchip, Wycheproof and Quambatook, damaging thousands of hectares of wheat, barley, lentils, canola and other crops just as many paddocks were ready to harvest. - read more
Strata Storm Claim Ruling Puts Defect Exclusions in Focus Strata Storm Claim Ruling Puts Defect Exclusions in Focus
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A recent Australian Financial Complaints Authority decision has highlighted a difficult but common issue for strata communities: damage that happens during a storm is not always insured storm damage. The dispute, reported on 5 November 2026, involved an owners corporation claim for a collapsed parapet wall, with the insurer declining cover on the basis that defective design, materials or workmanship were the dominant cause rather than the weather event itself. - read more
Healthcare liability pressure puts clinic renewal evidence in focus Healthcare liability pressure puts clinic renewal evidence in focus
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A new Australian healthcare professional liability market update points to a sharper divide between general insurance market conditions and the experience of healthcare organisations arranging malpractice and professional liability cover. Lockton’s 1 November 2026 update says established insurers remain selective, claims inflation is affecting attachment points and underwriters are looking more closely at how clinical governance works in practice, not merely whether accreditation exists. - read more
WA Child Safety Changes Put Fitness Compliance in the Spotlight WA Child Safety Changes Put Fitness Compliance in the Spotlight
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Western Australia’s updated Working With Children Check laws are a timely reminder that fitness business risk is not limited to physical injury, equipment damage or venue incidents. The changes, in effect from 17 September 2026 and highlighted by AUSactive in October, mean certain adverse Working With Children outcomes from other Australian jurisdictions can now affect a person’s ability to work with children in WA. - read more
APRA AI remarks put risk data under the spotlight APRA AI remarks put risk data under the spotlight
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

APRA’s latest comments on artificial intelligence in insurance have shifted attention from future technology to a practical issue for today’s small operators: the quality of the information insurers use to understand risk. For domestic and home service businesses, sharper underwriting could eventually mean more tailored pricing, but it may also make incomplete records, unclear operations or higher-risk work harder to overlook. - read more
AI oversight gap sharpens consultant insurance questions AI oversight gap sharpens consultant insurance questions
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

New Australian-focused research on artificial intelligence use is a timely warning for consultants: the risk conversation is moving beyond whether AI tools are useful and towards whether their actions can be controlled, audited and explained. - read more
Cheaper Renewals Do Not Remove the Cost Pressure in Construction Claims Cheaper Renewals Do Not Remove the Cost Pressure in Construction Claims
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Australia’s commercial insurance market has moved further into softer pricing territory, but the construction sector should be careful not to read that as a sign that underlying risk has eased. Aon’s latest third-quarter market update points to abundant capacity and lower pricing across the Australian market, while recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows building and repair costs are still moving higher. - read more
Softer Liability Market May Help Freelancers, But Caution Still Matters Softer Liability Market May Help Freelancers, But Caution Still Matters
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh October 2026 industry analysis suggests parts of Australia’s commercial liability insurance market are moving into a softer phase, with pricing pressure easing after several years of stronger rates. For freelancers, consultants and sole traders, the development is relevant because professional indemnity and public liability are often the policies most closely linked to client contracts, project risk and everyday business exposure. - read more
Fresh Cyber Figures Put Fitness Client Data in the Spotlight Fresh Cyber Figures Put Fitness Client Data in the Spotlight
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Australia’s latest cybercrime reporting has sharpened the message for small fitness businesses: digital risk is no longer separate from day-to-day client service. The Australian Signals Directorate’s 2025-26 Annual Cyber Threat Report, released on 26 October 2026, recorded more than 82,000 cybercrime reports across the year, while the average self-reported cost for a small business cybercrime report was $55,400. For personal trainers, the issue is not only online fraud. - read more
Falling Home Values Do Not Automatically Lower Landlord Risk Falling Home Values Do Not Automatically Lower Landlord Risk
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Australia’s latest housing market update gives landlords a useful warning: a fall in property values does not necessarily mean the financial risk attached to a rental property has fallen as well. Property Update’s 9 November 2026 coverage of Cotality data reported another national decline in home values in October, alongside a higher national vacancy rate and the weakest quarterly rent growth since early 2025. For rental property owners, the message is less about panic and more about recalibrating assumptions. - read more
New Commercial Landlord Cover Puts Multi-Tenant Risk in Focus New Commercial Landlord Cover Puts Multi-Tenant Risk in Focus
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

BizCover has expanded its business insurance platform with a new Property Owners insurance offering for Australian commercial landlords, distributed through Vero, AIG and QBE. Announced on 9 November 2026, the launch is aimed at owners of commercial premises such as shops, offices and warehouses, and is notable because it bundles several risk areas that often sit at the centre of landlord planning: building damage, landlord-owned contents, liability exposure and loss of rental income after certain insured events. - read more
Why faster underwriting should not rush life cover decisions Why faster underwriting should not rush life cover decisions
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Chubb Life’s expansion of its Life Lens underwriting tool across its Assurance Extra range is a useful sign of where New Zealand life insurance is heading: faster, more digital and increasingly data-led. For households arranging life, trauma, disability or income-related cover, the development may make parts of the application process feel more convenient, but it should not turn a long-term insurance decision into a quick tick-box exercise. - read more
What Long Covid disputes reveal about income cover wording What Long Covid disputes reveal about income cover wording
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Reports that some New Zealanders with Long Covid have had income protection claims declined under mental health exclusions have put policy wording under fresh scrutiny. The issue, covered by RNZ in late October and Insurance Business NZ on 3 November 2026, matters because it sits at the intersection of a newer post-viral condition, older exclusion structures, and the practical need for households to know what happens when illness stops paid work. - read more
What easing liability pricing momentum means for Australian businesses What easing liability pricing momentum means for Australian businesses
10 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Australia’s liability insurance market appears to be moving into a more competitive phase, after several years in which many businesses faced firmer premiums and tighter underwriting. Recent analysis of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s National Claims and Policies Database suggests pricing momentum is moderating in parts of the professional indemnity and public and product liability market, but the shift is not uniform and should not be read as a guaranteed premium fall for every business. - read more
Isuzu Recall Puts Software Risk on the Insurance Radar Isuzu Recall Puts Software Risk on the Insurance Radar
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A fresh Australian Government vehicle recall for selected Isuzu MY25 trucks is a timely reminder that modern heavy vehicle risk is no longer limited to tyres, brakes, steering, driver behaviour or road conditions. Software faults can also create safety exposures that matter for fleet operations, incident investigations and insurance conversations. - read more
Delayed Insurance Inquiry Keeps Tradie Cover Issues on the Table Delayed Insurance Inquiry Keeps Tradie Cover Issues on the Table
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A federal parliamentary inquiry into small business insurance has pushed its reporting timetable into early 2027, extending the wait for recommendations that may shape future debate on affordability, availability and regulation. For Australian tradespeople, the delay matters because the inquiry is examining the commercial insurance lines many small operators rely on daily, including public liability, professional indemnity, cyber risk and business interruption cover. - read more
Why Claims Communication Is Back in the Spotlight Why Claims Communication Is Back in the Spotlight
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A new Life Code Compliance Committee inquiry has put fresh attention on the way life insurers manage longer-running income protection insurance and total and permanent disability claims, finding that clearer communication and earlier information requests could reduce avoidable stress for people waiting on claim decisions. - read more
New Isuzu Truck Recall Highlights a Claims Evidence Issue New Isuzu Truck Recall Highlights a Claims Evidence Issue
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A fresh safety recall affecting 3,710 Isuzu MY25 trucks is a timely reminder that modern truck insurance risk is not only about driver behaviour, road conditions or workshop servicing. Software, trailer systems and electronic braking signals can all become part of the evidence trail if an incident occurs. - read more
Mental Health Cover Debate Now Matters for Business Protection Mental Health Cover Debate Now Matters for Business Protection
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Australia’s life insurance sector is moving into a detailed debate over how mental health conditions should be treated in disability-style cover, and the outcome could matter for business owners who rely on insurance to protect income, debt and operational continuity. - read more
Life Claims Inquiry Puts Delays Under Fresh Scrutiny Life Claims Inquiry Puts Delays Under Fresh Scrutiny
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A new Life Code Compliance Committee inquiry has put renewed attention on how Australian life insurers manage longer-running claims, finding that avoidable gaps in information requests and customer communication can add pressure to already complex total and permanent disability and income protection matters. - read more
New claims data puts life insurance dispute risk back in focus New claims data puts life insurance dispute risk back in focus
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Australian life insurance claims performance is back under scrutiny after APRA released its latest Life Insurance Claims and Disputes Statistics on 16 October 2026, covering the rolling 12 months from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. ASIC’s MoneySmart claims comparison tool was also updated on 26 October 2026, giving consumers and business owners a clearer way to compare insurers by accepted claims, decision times, disputes and cancellation rates. - read more
Claims review highlights the cost of slow communication Claims review highlights the cost of slow communication
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A new Life Code Compliance Committee inquiry has sharpened attention on how life insurers manage longer-running total and permanent disability and income protection claims, finding that earlier information requests and clearer communication could reduce avoidable delays for people already dealing with illness, injury or loss of income. - read more
Life Claims Review Highlights the Cost of Slow Communication Life Claims Review Highlights the Cost of Slow Communication
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A new Life Code Compliance Committee inquiry has sharpened attention on how life insurers manage longer-running total and permanent disability and income protection claims, finding that clearer communication and earlier information gathering can make a practical difference for people already facing illness, injury or loss of income. - read more
Dingo Protection Debate Puts Livestock Risk Planning in Focus Dingo Protection Debate Puts Livestock Risk Planning in Focus
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A federal assessment of whether the Wilkerr dingo population should receive national threatened-species protection has created a practical risk-management issue for livestock producers near the South Australian and Victorian border. ABC Rural reported on 3 November 2026 that some farmers around the Ngarkat and Big Desert region fear tighter protection could limit their ability to respond to attacks on sheep and cattle, while conservation advocates argue the small, isolated population needs stronger safeguards. - read more
Small Business Insurance Inquiry Delay Keeps Reform Questions Open Small Business Insurance Inquiry Delay Keeps Reform Questions Open
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A federal parliamentary inquiry into small business insurance has been pushed back to 26 February 2027, extending the wait for recommendations on affordability, access and regulation. For Australian small and medium-sized businesses, the delay matters because the inquiry is examining the practical availability of cover that many operators rely on every day, including public liability, professional indemnity, cyber risk and business interruption insurance. - read more
Disaster Recovery Gap Puts Retail Resilience in Focus Disaster Recovery Gap Puts Retail Resilience in Focus
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh research commissioned by QBE and conducted by Oxford Economics Australia has put a longer lens on disaster recovery for small businesses, finding that the economic effect of floods, bushfires and cyclones can deepen well after the initial clean-up. For Australian retailers, the message is practical: recovery planning and insurance settings need to reflect more than the first few weeks after a major event. - read more
Cheaper Cyber Cover Has Not Closed the SME Protection Gap Cheaper Cyber Cover Has Not Closed the SME Protection Gap
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh evidence to a federal parliamentary inquiry has put Australia’s small business cyber insurance gap back in focus, with industry representatives saying cover is becoming cheaper and easier to obtain while many SMEs remain uninsured or uncertain about its role. - read more
Long Covid Claims Put Exclusion Wording Under Pressure Long Covid Claims Put Exclusion Wording Under Pressure
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Reports of New Zealand income protection claims for Long Covid being declined under mental health exclusions have brought a difficult policy issue into public view: what happens when a disabling physical illness is assessed through wording originally designed for a different risk category? - read more
New specialty insurer adds capacity for construction risks New specialty insurer adds capacity for construction risks
05 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Munich Re Specialty’s formal entry into the Australian primary specialty insurance market on 2 November 2026 is a fresh signal that capacity is returning to selected commercial risks, including construction and engineering. For builders, contractors and project owners, the development is relevant because it adds another recognised name to a market where placement outcomes still depend heavily on project quality, documentation and risk controls. - read more
New Dust Limits Put Farm Safety Records in the Insurance Spotlight New Dust Limits Put Farm Safety Records in the Insurance Spotlight
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

New workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants are moving from a regulatory issue to a practical farm risk-management concern, particularly for grain growers heading through harvest. With the national transition scheduled for 1 December 2026, recent state decisions to delay or stage some limits have created a patchwork of obligations that farm businesses should watch closely. - read more
ASIC Service Review Keeps Income Protection Basics in Focus ASIC Service Review Keeps Income Protection Basics in Focus
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

ASIC’s 2026–27 life insurance priorities have put a practical issue back in front of income protection customers: the basic administration behind a policy can matter just as much as the headline level of cover. In its latest sector letter to life insurer boards and executives, the regulator says it is continuing a review into service issues in life insurance, with a report expected in the third quarter of 2026–27. - read more
Why Defect Claims Are Re-emerging as a PI Pressure Point Why Defect Claims Are Re-emerging as a PI Pressure Point
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh specialty insurance market commentary has put construction-related professional indemnity risk back in focus, with Hall & Wilcox warning that latent defects, insolvency-driven disputes and broader liability settings are likely to keep claims activity elevated over the next 12 to 18 months. For Australian professionals involved in design, engineering, certification, project management, supervision or technical advice, the message is clear: a softer insurance market does not necessarily mean a softer risk environment. - read more
Cyber Insurance Gap Remains a Practical Risk for Real Estate Agencies Cyber Insurance Gap Remains a Practical Risk for Real Estate Agencies
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh evidence to a federal parliamentary inquiry has put the small business cyber insurance gap back in the spotlight, with industry representatives telling MPs that cover is becoming easier to arrange and, in parts of the market, cheaper than it was during harder conditions. - read more
Dengue Vaccine News Adds a New Pre-Trip Insurance Check Dengue Vaccine News Adds a New Pre-Trip Insurance Check
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Recent Australian guidance on the dengue vaccine Qdenga has given travellers another reason to treat health preparation and travel insurance as connected parts of trip planning, particularly for holidays in South-East Asia, the Pacific and other dengue-prone regions. The issue is not that vaccination changes the need for cover, but that infectious disease risk, outbreak declarations and timing can all affect how well protected a traveller may be if plans change or medical help is needed overseas. - read more
Whitsundays Theft Reports Put Boat Security Back in Focus Whitsundays Theft Reports Put Boat Security Back in Focus
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Recent police reports from the Whitsundays are a timely reminder that boat theft risk is not limited to trailers in driveways or vessels left unattended at suburban ramps. Queensland Police said several property offences involving marine vessels were under investigation in October, with smaller vessels allegedly stolen from marinas or unlawfully taken from larger boats moored close to shore. - read more
Insurance Inquiry Delay Extends Wait for Small Business Answers Insurance Inquiry Delay Extends Wait for Small Business Answers
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A federal parliamentary inquiry examining small business insurance has pushed its final report from 27 October 2026 to 26 February 2027, extending the wait for recommendations on affordability, availability and regulation. For Australian businesses that rely on public liability insurance, the delay matters because the inquiry is looking directly at whether modern cover is meeting the needs of small firms, not-for-profits and community organisations. - read more
Life Claims Review Puts Communication Back in Focus Life Claims Review Puts Communication Back in Focus
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A new Life Code Compliance Committee inquiry has sharpened attention on how life insurers manage longer-running total and permanent disability and income protection claims, finding that earlier information requests and clearer communication could reduce avoidable delays for people already dealing with illness, injury or loss of income. - read more
Why Liability Pricing Relief Still Needs Caution in Restaurants Why Liability Pricing Relief Still Needs Caution in Restaurants
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Australian restaurants and cafes may be entering a more competitive phase for liability insurance, but the latest market analysis suggests owners should avoid treating softer pricing as a signal that risk has reduced. KPMG Australia's October 2026 liability insurance review, drawing mainly on APRAs National Claims and Policies Database to December 2024, points to moderating pricing momentum after several years of premium strengthening, while also highlighting uneven claims experience across public liability and related classes. - read more
Commercial Insurance Softens, but Truck Cover Still Needs Evidence Commercial Insurance Softens, but Truck Cover Still Needs Evidence
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh commercial insurance data points to a more buyer-friendly market, but Australian truck operators should be careful not to read the headline fall as a simple forecast for cheaper heavy vehicle cover. Marsh’s Q3 2026 Global Insurance Market Index, released on 21 October 2026, reported a 12 per cent fall in Pacific commercial insurance rates for the quarter, led by property and supported by strong insurer competition. - read more
Softer Commercial Insurance Market Gives Tradies More to Weigh Up Softer Commercial Insurance Market Gives Tradies More to Weigh Up
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Australian trade businesses heading into renewal season may find the commercial insurance market more competitive than it has been for several years, with recent industry updates pointing to softer pricing across several business insurance classes. For tradies, that does not automatically mean every premium will fall, but it does create a useful moment to review whether cover still matches the way the business actually works. - read more
What New SME Insurance Capacity Could Mean for Beauty Operators What New SME Insurance Capacity Could Mean for Beauty Operators
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A new Lloyd's-backed underwriting option for Australian small business risks is a timely reminder that beauty salons, skin clinics, nail studios and mobile beauticians sit in a market where insurer appetite can change quickly. Insurance Business Australia reported on 30 October 2026 that Antipodean Underwriting, an independent Sydney agency launched in September, has been approved as a Lloyd's coverholder and is positioning itself around smaller commercial accounts that it says can be overlooked by larger insurers. - read more
Court Ruling Shows Why Overlapping Site Cover Still Needs Scrutiny Court Ruling Shows Why Overlapping Site Cover Still Needs Scrutiny
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A recent Federal Court decision involving a construction site injury has put a spotlight on a common but often misunderstood issue for trade businesses: what happens when more than one liability policy appears to cover the same incident. For subcontractors, the case is a reminder that being noted under a head contractor’s project insurance does not automatically mean every policy will respond in the same way, or in the order a business might expect. - read more
New Broker Code Raises the Bar for Strata Insurance Transparency New Broker Code Raises the Bar for Strata Insurance Transparency
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

The final 2027 Insurance Brokers Code of Practice has put strata insurance transparency firmly in the national spotlight, with new expectations for how brokers disclose remuneration and confirm their authority when arranging cover for owners corporations. - read more
Mental Health Cover Debate Enters a More Practical Phase Mental Health Cover Debate Enters a More Practical Phase
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Australia’s life insurers have moved from broad reform talk to the harder task of deciding how mental health should be treated in future life insurance products, after the Council of Australian Life Insurers released its response to the independent Life Insurance Code of Practice review. For employers, the development matters because mental health claims, disability definitions, affordability pressures and staff communication all intersect in workplace insurance arrangements. - read more
Cyber Insurance Gap Puts Digital Tradie Risks in Focus Cyber Insurance Gap Puts Digital Tradie Risks in Focus
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh evidence to a federal cyber security inquiry has highlighted a widening mismatch for Australian small businesses: cyber insurance may be becoming cheaper and simpler to arrange, yet many SMEs still appear to be operating without cover. For tradies who now rely on online invoicing, mobile job apps, cloud accounting, supplier portals and digital payment details, that gap is no longer just a technology issue. - read more
New Genetic Test Rules Change Life Insurance Underwriting New Genetic Test Rules Change Life Insurance Underwriting
04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Australia’s new genetic testing protections are now in force, marking one of the more practical changes to life insurance underwriting in recent years. From 8 October 2026, life insurers are restricted from asking for, soliciting or using protected genetic testing information when assessing new life insurance policies or variations to existing cover. - read more
NSW phosphine delay gives grain growers time to tighten risk controls NSW phosphine delay gives grain growers time to tighten risk controls
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

New South Wales has joined other major grain states in delaying the introduction of tougher workplace exposure limits for phosphine, a development that should matter to farm businesses well beyond the compliance desk. Grain Central reported on 28 October 2026 that the NSW Government had agreed to defer the new phosphine limit until 1 July 2028, following industry concern about measurement, harvest timing and practical implementation. - read more
Homebirth indemnity deadline sharpens focus on scope and cover Homebirth indemnity deadline sharpens focus on scope and cover
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

The end of a long-running homebirth indemnity exemption is becoming an immediate insurance and workforce issue for privately practising midwives, with the Australian College of Midwives on 29 October 2026 urging government action before the exemption ceases on 31 December 2026. For allied health and broader healthcare practices, the development is a reminder that registration, scope of practice and insurance availability can shift quickly when transitional arrangements expire. - read more
New Insurance Code Step Puts Claims Service Back in Focus New Insurance Code Step Puts Claims Service Back in Focus
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

The Insurance Council of Australia's submission of a strengthened General Insurance Code of Practice to ASIC on 22 October 2026 is a significant development for policyholders who rely on clear claims handling, timely communication and fair treatment. For fitness professionals, the reform is less about changing day-to-day training risk and more about what happens after a client injury, property damage incident, equipment loss or business disruption becomes an insurance claim. - read more
Insurance Inquiry Delay Keeps Home Service Cover Questions Live Insurance Inquiry Delay Keeps Home Service Cover Questions Live
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A federal parliamentary inquiry into small business insurance has pushed its final report into 2027, extending the wait for recommendations on affordability, availability and whether modern insurance products are keeping pace with small business risk. For domestic and home service operators, the delay is not just a Canberra timetable issue; it keeps unresolved questions about liability, interruption, cyber exposure and regional access on the agenda while everyday renewal decisions continue. - read more
New insurance code is not a blanket fix for consultant cover New insurance code is not a blanket fix for consultant cover
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

The Insurance Council of Australia's redrafted General Insurance Code of Practice, lodged with ASIC on 22 October 2026, marks an important step towards stronger consumer protections and more accountable claims handling. For consultants, however, the practical message is more nuanced: the proposed Code may improve expectations around some general insurance dealings, but it should not be read as a universal safety net across every business policy. - read more
New Specialty Capacity Arrives for Australian Construction Risks New Specialty Capacity Arrives for Australian Construction Risks
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Munich Re Specialty's formal entry into the Australian primary specialty insurance market on 2 November 2026 is a notable development for builders, contractors, developers and project owners watching capacity across construction, engineering and surety lines. The Sydney-based operation is initially focused on property, construction and engineering, mining and surety business, with a stated emphasis on commercial and mid-market clients. - read more
Insurance Inquiry Delay Keeps Freelancer Cover Questions Open Insurance Inquiry Delay Keeps Freelancer Cover Questions Open
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A federal parliamentary inquiry into small business insurance has pushed its reporting timetable into 2027, extending the wait for recommendations on affordability, availability and regulation. For Australian freelancers, consultants and sole traders, the delay matters because the inquiry is examining the same cover types that often sit at the centre of independent work: public liability, professional indemnity, cyber risk and business interruption. - read more
Insurance Inquiry Delay Keeps Small Business Cover in Focus Insurance Inquiry Delay Keeps Small Business Cover in Focus
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A federal parliamentary inquiry into small business insurance has pushed its reporting timetable into early 2027, keeping affordability, availability and policy complexity on the agenda for sole traders, contractors and small operators across Australia. For personal trainers, the delay does not change existing insurance obligations, but it does extend an important policy debate about whether current commercial cover is keeping pace with modern small business risks. - read more
Broker Benchmarking Shows Premium Tailwinds Are Easing Broker Benchmarking Shows Premium Tailwinds Are Easing
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A new Macquarie Bank benchmarking study has put a practical frame around a shift many Australian insurance clients are starting to feel: the rapid premium growth that supported broker and intermediary revenue in recent years is losing momentum. The survey of 187 insurance intermediary businesses, reported by Insurance News on 2 November 2026, found the sector remains profitable, but revenue growth is no longer being carried as strongly by rising premiums. - read more
Claims Review Highlights the Cost of Slow Communication Claims Review Highlights the Cost of Slow Communication
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A new Life Code Compliance Committee inquiry has put renewed pressure on life insurers to improve the way they manage longer-running total and permanent disability and income protection claims, after finding that avoidable communication and information-gathering issues can add to an already stressful claims process. - read more
Cyclone Pool Relief Is Not a Set-and-Forget Signal for Landlords Cyclone Pool Relief Is Not a Set-and-Forget Signal for Landlords
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Australian landlords with properties in cyclone-exposed regions have received a cautiously positive signal from the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation’s latest cyclone reinsurance pool assessment, released on 20 October 2026. The update indicates that average home insurance premiums in medium to high cyclone-risk areas remain materially lower than before insurers joined the pool, while quote success rates have also improved. - read more
Yield-Focused Investors Face a Different Insurance Test Yield-Focused Investors Face a Different Insurance Test
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh investor reporting suggests Australian landlords are not simply stepping away from residential property, but are becoming more selective about the type of rental assets they buy. The PropTrack-Terri Scheer Investor Report 2026 points to a pullback in investor lending after interest rate rises and May 2026 federal budget changes, alongside stronger interest in new homes and higher-yielding properties. - read more
What the Fidelity Life deal could mean for policyholders What the Fidelity Life deal could mean for policyholders
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

The proposed acquisition of Fidelity Life by the parent company of Partners Life is one of the more significant ownership developments in New Zealand’s life insurance market this year. Announced in early September 2026 and reported as a $630 million transaction, the deal remains subject to regulatory approvals and other completion steps, so customers should treat it as a proposed change rather than a completed merger. - read more
What the Fidelity Life deal could mean for income cover What the Fidelity Life deal could mean for income cover
03 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

A significant transaction in New Zealand’s life insurance market has put adviser-distributed cover back in the spotlight. Partners Group Holdings, the holding company of Partners Life and a subsidiary of Daiichi Life Group, has agreed to acquire Fidelity Life in a deal reported at NZ$630 million, subject to regulatory approvals and other completion conditions. - read more
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That part of an insurance claim that must be paid by an insured person before the the balance is paid by the insurer.

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