Insurance hikes are leaving struggle street unprotected
Natural disasters exacerbated by climate change are resulting in higher home insurance costs with about 1.6 million households now under home insurance stress.
insurance
Crying poor claim as insurers accused of price gouging
A crackdown on how insurers respond to climate change has been declared by the corporate watchdog, as a union accuses some of the biggest firms of crying poor.
Disaster insurance claims driven by Queensland events
Insurers paid out $2.2 billion in claims related to extreme weather events in 2023/24, in line with the previous year, new figures show.
economy, business and finance
environmental issue
financial and business service
global warming
insurance
Senator, insurer clash over cyclone ‘price-gouging’
A major insurer has been accused of making big profits during natural diasters at an inquiry into the impacts of climate change on the insurance sector.
Insurance prices blowing away cyclone-prone communities
Regional councils at risk from cyclones will reveal the impact of rising insurance costs on their communities at a Senate hearing.
Insurers leaving flood-prone communities high and dry
Regional councils at risk from flooding have revealed the impact of rising insurance costs on their communities at a Senate hearing.
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
consumers
environmental issue
insurance
road transport
transport
Tesla launches deal to cut electric vehicle speed bumps
Australia's most popular electric vehicle brand has partnered with an insurance firm to reduce another hurdle to investing in low-emission transport.
Building insurance costs soar after companies go under
The demise of several big construction companies has triggered a massive jump in insurance premiums for homebuilders.
Insurers hiked premiums in loyalty ploy, lawsuit claims
A loyalty ploy by insurers led to higher premiums being charged to more than one million customers, a class action alleges in claims the parent company denies.
Call to back NDIS changes amid premiers’ concerns
State and territory leaders have been urged to support reforms to the NDIS because people with disabilities can't afford to wait any longer for improvements.
abusive behaviour
banking
children
computing and information technology
consumers
economy, business and finance
human rights
insurance
investments
politics
professional - women general
science (general)
technology (general)
Commissioner warns of ‘tech wreck’ from unchecked abuse
As Australia races to retrofit laws for generative artificial intelligence, the nation's eSafety commissioner says investigators face real-life harms every day.
Disability scheme overhaul transforms access to support
An overhaul of the government's disability scheme could change the way Australians access support funding and give powers to the program's watchdog.
‘We’re concerned’: states revolt over NDIS cost fears
State and territory leaders are calling for transparency about NDIS costs as they push back against planned reforms, which they say are being rushed.
construction and property
financially distressed company
housing and urban planning
insurance
politics
More deposit bailout cash after home builder collapse
Victorian taxpayers will again come to the rescue of customers who lost their home deposit after the builder went belly up.
Help offered to Indigenous people ripped off by Youpla
Save Sorry Business has welcomed the federal government's $97 million support package for Indigenous people affected by the collapse of dodgy insurer Youpla.
‘Making money’: insurers scolded over flood payouts
Insurers have been accused of failing to protect and compensate Australians devastated by floods during a fiery parliamentary hearing.
Insurers warned, but nation must mitigate for disasters
Insurers are being warned to do the right thing by customers devastated by natural disasters, but the nation must also invest in mitigation measures.
Insurers acknowledge faults after 2022 floods
A "substantial misalignment of interests" ensued in the wake of flood-affected people trying to have insurance claims paid out in 2022.
Insurance fund for flood-prone areas: legal advocates
Advocates say a fund to help people in flood-prone areas afford insurance premiums should be considered as a parliamentary inquiry looks at insurer practices.
Households waiting on building insurance settlement
There was an unprecedented number of domestic building insurance claims after the collapse of builders like Porter Davis with more than 1000 claims not settled.
Hefty fine for RACQ after misleading discounts
Insurer RACQ has been hit with a $10 million penalty in the Federal Court after potentially misleading customers about price discounts.
Insurance Council warns higher prices ‘baked in’
The Insurance Council of Australia chief says households and businesses are feeling the squeeze, with more people forced to forego or reduce insurance coverage.
Past due date: no solution to midwifery insurance gap
A gap in professional indemnity insurance for endorsed midwives has still not been fixed, a month after the Health Department was advised of the issue.
Widespread floods exposed insurance industry failings
A review of the response by insurers into the widespread and catastrophic flooding on the nation's east coast has found multiple weaknesses in the industry.
construction and property
economy, business and finance
environmental issue
insurance
natural disasters
politics
real estate
Call to build homes to defy climate, save $4b a year
As floods, cyclones and bushfires become more ferocious, costs to home-owners could double by 2050 without changes to the construction code, an analysis shows.
Melbourne road named Australia’s most dangerous
A Melbourne road has come out on top of a list of Australia's most dangerous crash hotspots for the sixth year running.
construction and property
economy, business and finance
environmental issue
insurance
politics
real estate
Insurers demand action on risks to stay above water
The financial hit from catastrophes may have dropped over the past 12 months but insurance premiums keep rising, an industry report shows.
IAG reports ‘solid year’ as net profit jumps
Insurance giant IAG says it made $832 million in 2022/23, up from $347 million the year before, as it works to become a stronger and more resilient company.
construction and property
economy, business and finance
environmental issue
global warming
insurance
politics
real estate
Home insurance out of reach as climate disasters surge
The biggest rise in premiums in 20 years has raised concerns households may forego insurance and be even harder hit when the next disaster strikes.
Insurance costs, claims under microscope after floods
Insurance affordability and the handling of claims after devastating floods in several states in 2022 will be examined in a parliamentary hearing.
A forever home ruined by floods and insurance battles
A federal parliamentary inquiry will examine insurance companies' handling of claims after historic floods ravaged most states and territories in 2022.