| Investor Home Loans Surge Amid Record Borrowing Fri, 26 Dec: In the third quarter of 2025, Australia's property market witnessed a significant shift as investors accounted for two out of every five home loans. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed that over 57,000 investors borrowed nearly $40 billion during this period, marking a 17.6% increase from the previous quarter. This surge underscores a growing trend of investor dominance in the housing sector. - read more
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| First Home Buyer Loan Applications Surge by 39.2% in October Fri, 26 Dec: October 2025 marked a significant milestone for first-time homebuyers in Australia, with loan applications surging by 39.2%. This remarkable increase is largely attributed to the federal government's expansion of the 5% Deposit Scheme, which has made homeownership more accessible to a broader segment of the population. - read more
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| Australian Home Prices Experience Sharpest Rise in Over Two Years Fri, 26 Dec: October 2025 witnessed a significant surge in Australian home prices, with a 1.1% increase—the fastest monthly rise since June 2023. This growth reflects a robust rebound in the housing market, driven by several key factors. - read more
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| Australian Life Insurers Report Significant Profit Increase in June 2025 Quarter Fri, 26 Dec: The Australian life insurance sector has reported a substantial after-tax profit of $360 million for the June 2025 quarter, marking a significant increase from the $116 million recorded in the same period the previous year. This impressive growth is primarily attributed to a sharp rise in investment income and improved underwriting performance across key product lines. - read more
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| Rising Mental Health Claims Impact Australian Life Insurance Industry Fri, 26 Dec: The Australian life insurance industry is witnessing a significant surge in mental health-related claims, reflecting broader societal challenges and increasing awareness of mental health issues. AIA Australia, a leading life insurer, has reported that mental health claims now account for 23% of its total claims, up from 15% in 2014. This trend underscores the growing prevalence of mental health conditions and their impact on individuals' ability to work and maintain financial stability. - read more
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| Decline in Australian Life and Income Protection Insurance Premiums Fri, 26 Dec: Recent data indicates a notable decline in life and income protection insurance premiums across Australia, providing consumers with more affordable coverage options. According to the latest Direct Life Insurance Report from Rainmaker Information, direct life premiums have decreased by 7% since 2024. Similarly, direct income protection premiums have seen significant reductions, with average premiums for waiting periods of 30 days and 90 days decreasing by 12% and 13%, respectively. - read more
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| Club Marine Marks 65 Years of Leadership in Australian Boating Insurance Fri, 26 Dec: Club Marine, Australia's largest recreational boat insurer, is celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2024. Since its founding in 1959 as Marine Hull & Liability, the company has grown from a small operation in Victoria to a nationwide provider of insurance services for the country's boating community. - read more
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| IAG's Strategic Moves Propel Profit Forecast Upward Fri, 26 Dec: Insurance Australia Group (IAG) has recently announced an optimistic upgrade to its financial guidance for the fiscal year 2026, projecting a 10% increase in gross written premium (GWP) and an insurance profit ranging between $1.55 billion and $1.75 billion. This positive outlook is largely attributed to strategic acquisitions and a focus on digital transformation. - read more
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| Australian Insurers Face Challenges in Emerging Risk Preparedness Fri, 26 Dec: Recent findings from PwC's Insurance Banana Skins Survey indicate that Australian insurers are trailing behind their global counterparts in terms of preparedness for emerging risks, particularly in areas such as cyber threats and artificial intelligence (AI). - read more
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| Australian Insurers Falling Behind in Cyber Risk Preparedness Fri, 26 Dec: Recent findings from the PwC Insurance Banana Skins Survey reveal that Australian insurers are trailing their global counterparts in preparedness for emerging risks, particularly in the realms of cyber threats and artificial intelligence (AI). This lag poses significant challenges as the industry confronts an increasingly complex risk landscape. - read more
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| Australian General Insurers Report Decade-High Return on Equity Fri, 26 Dec: Australia's general insurance industry has reported a remarkable 19% return on equity (ROE) for the financial year 2025 (FY25), marking the highest level in a decade. This significant achievement is detailed in the latest Optima Report by actuarial consultancy Finity, which attributes the strong performance to a combination of favorable factors. - read more
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| Australian Life Insurance Market Set for Steady Growth Fri, 26 Dec: Australia's life insurance sector is on track for moderate expansion over the next four years, with gross written premiums (GWP) forecasted to increase from $26.2 billion in 2025 to $30.5 billion by 2029. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9%, according to recent analysis by GlobalData. - read more
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| ASIC Enhances Enforcement and Reviews AI in Financial Services Thu, 25 Dec: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has significantly intensified its regulatory activities, reporting a 50% increase in investigations and nearly a 20% rise in new civil enforcement proceedings. This escalation underscores ASIC's commitment to upholding market integrity and protecting consumers within the financial services sector. - read more
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| ANZ Bank Alerts Businesses to Rising Sophisticated Scams Thu, 25 Dec: ANZ Bank has issued a cautionary advisory to Australian businesses, highlighting a surge in sophisticated scams that exploit vulnerabilities in financial processes. The bank emphasizes the importance of heightened vigilance to safeguard against these evolving threats. - read more
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| Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Enhances Anti-Money Laundering Measures Thu, 25 Dec: Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Australia's fifth-largest retail bank, is undertaking significant measures to strengthen its anti-money laundering (AML) safeguards following a comprehensive review that identified critical deficiencies. - read more
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| Surge in Mental Health Claims Challenges Australia's Income Protection Insurance Thu, 25 Dec: Recent data from the Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) reveals a significant shift in the landscape of income protection insurance in Australia. Mental health conditions have emerged as the leading cause of total and permanent disability (TPD) claims, accounting for nearly one-third of all claims paid. In 2024 alone, insurers disbursed over $2.2 billion for retail mental health claims, a figure that has almost doubled compared to five years prior. - read more
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| Decline in Income Protection Premiums Reflects Market Adjustments in Australia Thu, 25 Dec: Recent research from Rainmaker Information indicates a notable decrease in income protection insurance premiums across Australia. Direct income protection premiums have fallen by 12% for policies with a 30-day waiting period and 13% for those with a 90-day waiting period since 2024. Similarly, premiums for life products sold through advisers have decreased by 5%, with income protection premiums dropping by 7% for 30-day waiting periods and 5% for 90-day periods. - read more
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| Superannuation Insurance Extends Coverage to 6 Million More Australians Thu, 25 Dec: New research from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) reveals that superannuation insurance now provides critical protection to over 6 million Australians who would otherwise be uninsured. This expansion has been achieved without impacting household spending, as the coverage is included within superannuation contributions. - read more
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| Adore Beauty's Strategic Acquisition of Ikou Enhances Market Presence Thu, 25 Dec: In a significant move within the Australian beauty industry, Adore Beauty has announced the acquisition of wellness and skincare brand Ikou for $25 million. This strategic decision aims to bolster Adore Beauty's private label offerings and marks its entry into the physical retail space. - read more
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| Government Scrutinizes Health Insurers' Pricing Practices Thu, 25 Dec: Health Minister Mark Butler has issued a stern warning to private health insurers regarding the use of 'underhanded' tactics to raise premiums. This comes in response to findings that some insurers have been closing old policies and introducing more expensive ones, effectively increasing costs for consumers. - read more
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| AMA Highlights Declining Value in Private Health Insurance Thu, 25 Dec: The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has released a report indicating that private health insurance is increasingly failing to deliver value for money. The report highlights that premiums have risen sharply, outpacing inflation and wage growth, while nearly 70% of policies now contain exclusions for specific treatments or conditions. - read more
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| Comprehensive Professional Indemnity Insurance Now Available for Australian Tradies Thu, 25 Dec: Hutch Underwriting has recently unveiled enhanced professional indemnity (PI) insurance policies specifically designed for Australian tradespeople. These new offerings aim to provide comprehensive coverage by integrating advice, design, and incidental cyber exposures into a single solution. - read more
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| New Partnership Brings Specialised Insurance Solutions to Australian Tradies Thu, 25 Dec: In a significant development for Australia's trades sector, digital agency Viz has partnered with Ivory Insurance to offer specialised insurance coverage tailored for tradies and small business owners. This collaboration aims to address the unique risks faced by professionals in various trades, providing comprehensive protection and peace of mind. - read more
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| Simplified Insurance Solutions Now Available for Australian Tradespeople Thu, 25 Dec: Hutch Underwriting has launched Trade Pack, a new insurance solution designed to meet the diverse needs of Australian tradespeople while minimizing administrative complexities. This offering is tailored for trades such as bricklayers, carpenters, landscapers, painters, and shop fitters, providing a streamlined approach to insurance coverage. - read more
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| Understanding Queensland's Boost to Buy Scheme for First-Home Buyers Wed, 24 Dec: In a significant move to support first-home buyers, the Queensland Government has introduced the Boost to Buy scheme, a shared equity initiative designed to make home ownership more attainable. This program offers an equity contribution of up to 30% for new homes and 25% for existing homes, applicable to properties valued up to $1 million. Eligible households with incomes up to $225,000 can benefit from this scheme, which aims to reduce the deposit gap that often hinders first-time buyers. - read more
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