Welcome to the Insurance Online News podcast with your host, Paige Estritori, where we deliver the latest and most significant news from the world of insurance in Australia. Our dedicated team works tirelessly to bring you the freshest updates, focusing on the stories that matter the most to both Australian businesses and individual consumers over the past week.
Through meticulous research, we transform these developments into original content that not only keeps you informed but also offers deep insights into the insurance landscape as it stands today. Our podcast distills these crucial updates into a format that's both succinct and captivating. For professionals within the insurance realm or personal consumers keen on keeping up with insurance trends, look no further. Paige Estritori brings you all the essential information daily, making our podcast the ultimate destination for trustworthy and impactful insurance news.
This Week:
Paige Estritori covers four Australian insurance stories for the week to Thursday, 13 August 2026: ASIC warns car insurers over poor premium transparency; severe weather pressures an insurers earnings and fuels claims inflation; the Life Code Compliance Committee targets claim payment delays and dispute handling; and Queensland funds security upgrades for small businesses. Listeners are urged to review cover, ask for clearer pricing, compare quotes, and leverage brokers.
Hello and welcome to Insurance Online News with Paige Estritori for Thursday, 13 August 2026.
First, car insurers are on notice. Australias corporate regulator, ASIC — thats the Australian Securities and Investments Commission — says premiums have risen faster than inflation and too many renewal notices fail to explain why. If your renewal jumps, ask your insurer to break down the drivers, check whether paying annually avoids instalment loadings, and compare at least two alternatives. You can line up free quotes quickly and get broker support to negotiate.
Next up, natural hazards have dented earnings at one of the countrys biggest insurers. The latest results point to severe weather and rising repair costs feeding claims inflation. For households and businesses, thats a reminder to review sums insured, flood and storm wording, and excesses — and to shop around so youre not overpaying for like‑for‑like cover.
Meanwhile, life insurance standards are tightening. The Life Code Compliance Committee has set priorities for this financial year, including tackling delays in income benefit payments and improving internal dispute resolution. If you hold life or income protection, expect clearer claim communications. If a claim stalls, a broker can help you chase timelines and keep paperwork on track so you can focus on recovery.
And for small business owners, some welcome crime‑prevention help. Queensland has awarded almost $2 million across 174 businesses for CCTV, lighting, alarms and access control. Even if you missed the grant round, modest security upgrades can reduce losses and may help your insurer view your risk more favourably. Ask your broker whether recent improvements should be reflected in your policy and quotes.
Thats the wrap. For fast, free personal and business insurance quotes, easy comparisons, and Australia‑wide independent broker support, head to insuranceonline.com.au. Im Paige Estritori — thanks for listening, and Ill see you next week.
The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.
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Knowledgebase
Loss Ratio: The ratio of claims paid by an insurer to the premiums earned, used as a measure of profitability.
