| Allianz Australia Triumphs in 2026 Finder Home Insurance Awards Mon, 23 Feb: Allianz Australia has been honoured with the top accolade in the Comprehensive Home Insurance category at the 2026 Finder Product Awards. This recognition underscores the company's dedication to delivering high-quality insurance solutions tailored to the needs of Australian homeowners. - read more
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| Escalating Home Insurance Costs Deepen Australia's Protection Gap Mon, 23 Feb: Australian homeowners are facing a growing protection gap as escalating home insurance premiums render adequate coverage increasingly unaffordable. Recent data indicates that average home insurance premiums have risen by 16% over the past year, with some insurers implementing hikes exceeding 30%. - read more
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| Key Challenges Facing Australian Insurers in 2026 Mon, 23 Feb: As 2026 unfolds, Australian insurers are confronting a trio of pressing challenges: premium affordability, escalating cyber threats, and difficulties in attracting and retaining skilled talent. These issues are reshaping the industry's landscape and influencing strategic priorities. - read more
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| ASIC Announces 2026 Enforcement Priorities for the Insurance Sector Mon, 23 Feb: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has unveiled its enforcement priorities for 2026, placing a significant emphasis on the insurance sector. The regulator aims to address concerns related to misleading pricing practices, claims handling, and complaints processes within the industry. - read more
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| Australian Insurers Achieve Record Profits Amid Public Scrutiny Mon, 23 Feb: The Australian general insurance industry has reported an after-tax profit of $7.3 billion for the last financial year, marking its strongest performance in over a decade. This significant profit surge is attributed to lower-than-expected catastrophe losses and robust investment returns. However, this financial success has intensified public scrutiny regarding pricing practices and fairness within the sector. - read more
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| Australian Commercial Insurance Rates Experience Significant Decline Mon, 23 Feb: In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Australian commercial insurance market experienced an 8% decline in rates, representing the most significant drop globally during this period. This trend reflects intensified competition among insurers and a moderation of previous rate increases across various lines of business. - read more
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| Record Profits and Rising Premiums: Australian Insurers Under Scrutiny Mon, 23 Feb: Australia's leading insurance companies have reported substantial profits, coinciding with significant increases in premiums for policyholders. This development has sparked concerns among consumers and advocacy groups regarding the transparency and fairness of premium pricing. - read more
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| Australian Insurance Sector Achieves Robust Profits in 2024 Mon, 23 Feb: The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released its quarterly industry aggregate insurance statistical publications for the December 2024 quarter, showcasing a strong financial performance across the insurance sector. - read more
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| Australian Insurers Face Challenges in Risk Preparedness Mon, 23 Feb: Recent findings from the PwC Insurance Banana Skins Survey reveal that Australian insurers are trailing their global counterparts in risk preparedness. The survey, which gathered insights from 698 insurance executives across 42 territories, indicates that Australian insurers scored 6.6% lower on the Preparedness Index compared to the global average. - read more
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| ANZ Secures $2 Billion Loan Guarantee to Enhance Pacific Operations Sun, 22 Feb: In a strategic move to reinforce its presence in the Pacific region, ANZ has secured a $2 billion loan guarantee from the Australian government. This 10-year agreement aims to ensure the bank's continued operations across Pacific nations, countering growing regional influences. - read more
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| Housing Australia Future Fund Outperforms Expectations, Boosting Housing Initiatives Sun, 22 Feb: The Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) has reported investment returns more than double its initial projections, significantly accelerating the development of social and affordable housing projects nationwide. Established by the Albanese government, the HAFF aims to address housing affordability challenges by funding essential housing initiatives. - read more
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| NSW Energy Security Corporation Commences with $1 Billion to Boost Energy Projects Sun, 22 Feb: The New South Wales (NSW) government has launched the Energy Security Corporation (ESC) with an initial investment of $1 billion, aiming to accelerate key energy projects across the state. This initiative is designed to enhance energy reliability, affordability, and support the transition to clean energy sources. - read more
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| Australian Used Car Sales Surge in January 2026 Despite Supply Constraints Sun, 22 Feb: The Australian used car market experienced a notable uptick in January 2026, with sales increasing by 9.7% compared to December 2025. This surge occurred despite a 5.4% decline in vehicle listings, indicating a tightening supply in the market. - read more
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| Understanding the 4.41% Increase in Private Health Insurance Premiums for 2026 Sun, 22 Feb: Australian private health insurance premiums are set to rise by an average of 4.41% from 1 April 2026, marking the most significant increase since 2017. Health Minister Mark Butler stated that this adjustment reflects the escalating costs of medical and hospital services, which have risen by 5% over the past financial year. This increase is expected to impact over 15 million Australians who hold private health insurance policies. - read more
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| Health Insurers Respond to Rising Costs with Increased Payments to Private Hospitals Sun, 22 Feb: In response to escalating operational costs faced by private hospitals, health insurers have increased their payments to these facilities. Recent data indicates that payments to private hospitals have risen by 7.7% in the year leading up to March 2025. This adjustment aims to support private hospitals during a period of financial strain and to ensure the continued delivery of quality health care services. - read more
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| Health Insurers to Include Natural Therapies in Coverage from 2026 Sun, 22 Feb: In a significant policy shift, Australian health insurers will begin offering rebates for a range of natural therapies, including Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Shiatsu, Naturopathy, Western herbal medicine, and the Alexander Technique, starting early 2026. This change follows legislative amendments allowing these therapies to be covered under private health insurance for the treatment of health conditions or as part of health management programs. - read more
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| Australian Insurers Highlight Key Challenges for 2026 Sun, 22 Feb: As 2026 approaches, Australian insurers are facing a trio of pressing challenges: rising premium costs and shrinking insurability, escalating cyber and data risks, and increasing difficulty in hiring and retaining skilled workers. These concerns have been highlighted in industry feedback cited in Gallagher Bassett’s upcoming report, 'The Carrier Perspective: 2026 Claims Insights.' - read more
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| Australian Insurers Under Fire for Steep Premium Increases Sun, 22 Feb: In recent times, Australian consumers have been grappling with substantial increases in insurance premiums, prompting widespread concern and calls for greater transparency within the industry. Reports indicate that some policyholders have experienced premium hikes of up to 600%, leaving many questioning the justification behind such steep increases. - read more
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| Australian Insurers Leverage AI for Service Transformation Sun, 22 Feb: Insurance companies across Australia and New Zealand are increasingly investing in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to transform their operations and enhance customer experiences. This strategic shift aims to address challenges such as declining margins, evolving consumer expectations, and heightened competition from emerging insurtech firms. - read more
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| Rising Demand for Latent Defects Insurance in Australia's Construction Industry Sun, 22 Feb: Australia's construction industry is experiencing a significant shift towards latent defects insurance (LDI), a trend gaining momentum as New South Wales (NSW) approaches its 2028 deadline to mandate LDI for residential projects. This move underscores the sector's commitment to enhancing structural integrity and homeowner protection. - read more
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| Reserve Bank of Australia Increases Cash Rate to 3.85% Sat, 21 Feb: The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has raised the official cash rate by 0.25 percentage points to 3.85%, marking the first increase in two years. This decision comes in response to rising inflation and aims to curb escalating consumer prices. - read more
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| Rate Money Introduces Competitive Rate Adjustments Amid Industry Increases Sat, 21 Feb: In a move that sets it apart from major lenders, non-bank lender Rate Money has announced a modest increase in its variable interest rates by only 15 to 20 basis points on select loan products. This decision comes as many financial institutions implement the full 25 basis point hike following the RBA's recent cash rate increase. - read more
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| Australian Personal Loan Borrowing Reaches Record Levels Sat, 21 Feb: Recent data reveals that Australians borrowed approximately $9.3 billion in fixed-term personal loans during the September quarter of 2025, marking a significant increase in personal loan borrowing. The average new personal loan amount stood at $22,643, reflecting a growing reliance on personal loans for various financial needs. - read more
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| RBA's February 2026 Cash Rate Hike: What It Means for You Sat, 21 Feb: The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has raised the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85% during its February 2026 meeting. This decision comes in response to a resurgence in inflation during the latter half of 2025, with the RBA noting that price pressures have intensified and are expected to remain above target for some time. - read more
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| ASIC's Landmark Penalty Highlights Importance of Cybersecurity in Financial Services Sat, 21 Feb: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has imposed a $2.5 million penalty on an Australian Financial Services (AFS) licensee for significant cybersecurity failures between March 2019 and June 2023. This marks the first instance where the Federal Court has levied civil penalties for such breaches under the general AFS licensee obligations. - read more
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