| New Partnership Offers Discounted Financing for Hyundai and Kia Electric Vehicles Sat, 28 Mar: The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has joined forces with Hyundai Capital Australia to introduce a financing program aimed at reducing the upfront costs associated with purchasing electric vehicles (EVs). This initiative is designed to make EV ownership more accessible to Australian consumers by offering discounted loan rates on eligible Hyundai and Kia models. - read more
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| Australian EV and Hybrid Vehicle Financing Surges to Over $6 Billion in 2024 Sat, 28 Mar: The Australian Finance Industry Association (AFIA) has released a report highlighting a significant surge in financing for electric and hybrid vehicles. In 2024, over $6.17 billion was allocated to support the purchase of 104,835 electric and hybrid vehicles, marking a 50% increase compared to the previous year. - read more
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| Electric Vehicle Council Calls for Preservation of Electric Car Discount Sat, 28 Mar: The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has emphasized the importance of maintaining the Electric Car Discount to ensure that electric vehicles (EVs) remain affordable for working Australians. This call comes in response to the Federal Government's statutory review of the discount, which has been instrumental in accelerating EV adoption across the country. - read more
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| New Partnership Offers Discounted Loans for Hyundai and Kia Electric Vehicles Sat, 28 Mar: The Australian Government's Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has announced a partnership with Hyundai Capital Australia to offer discounted financing on eligible Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles (EVs). This initiative aims to reduce the upfront costs associated with EV ownership, making it more accessible for households and small businesses. - read more
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| Bank Australia Launches Affordable Loans for Electric Vehicle Buyers Sat, 28 Mar: Bank Australia has introduced a new Electric Vehicle Loan designed to make the purchase of fully electric cars more affordable for Australians. This initiative aligns with the bank's commitment to promoting sustainable transport and reducing carbon emissions. - read more
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| Australia's Electric Vehicle Market Set for Significant Growth in 2026 Sat, 28 Mar: Australia's electric vehicle (EV) market is on a trajectory to reach 15% of new car sales by the end of 2026, according to recent projections. This anticipated growth is driven by a combination of factors, including aggressive price reductions, an influx of new models, and expanded charging infrastructure. - read more
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| Australian Travel Insurers Extend Support During Middle East Conflict Sat, 28 Mar: In response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, Australian travel insurers have mobilised additional resources to support affected travellers. The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) announced that insurers are providing dedicated 24/7 assistance, coordinating medical care, and prioritising support for those in impacted regions. - read more
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| Rising Domestic Travel Claims Reveal Insurance Coverage Gap Sat, 28 Mar: Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) has reported a notable gap between Australians' attitudes towards domestic travel insurance and the claims being paid. In the first eight and a half months of 2025, SCTI settled over $240,000 in claims for local and interstate trips. Despite this, only about 41% of Australians consider travel insurance a high priority for domestic trips, compared to 76% for international travel. - read more
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| RACV Advises Travellers to Review Insurance Amid Rising Flight Cancellations Sat, 28 Mar: Australian travellers are facing ongoing flight disruptions, with cancellation rates climbing above long-term averages. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE), the national flight cancellation rate reached 2.6% in February 2025, exceeding the long-term average of 2.2%. On-time performance for both arrivals and departures also fell below historical benchmarks. - read more
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| Upcoming 4.41% Increase in Australian Private Health Insurance Premiums Sat, 28 Mar: Starting 1 April 2026, Australians will face an average increase of 4.41% in private health insurance premiums, marking the most significant rise since 2017. This adjustment comes in the wake of escalating healthcare costs and increased utilisation of health services. - read more
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| Climate Change Drives US$2.9 Billion in Insured Losses for Australian Insurers in 2025 Sat, 28 Mar: In 2025, Australian insurers faced significant financial challenges due to climate-related catastrophes, with insured losses totalling an estimated US$2.9 billion. This substantial figure underscores the escalating impact of climate change on the insurance industry and the broader economy. - read more
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| Premium Affordability and Cybersecurity Emerge as Leading Concerns for Australian Insurers in 2026 Sat, 28 Mar: As the Australian insurance industry progresses through 2026, it faces a trio of significant challenges: escalating premium costs, increasing cyber threats, and a tightening labour market. These issues are reshaping the sector's priorities and strategies. - read more
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| Insurtech Australia Criticizes ASIC's Efforts to Spur Insurance Innovation Sat, 28 Mar: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission's (ASIC) Enhanced Regulatory Sandbox (ERS), introduced in 2020 to facilitate financial innovation, has been deemed ineffective in fostering advancements within the insurance sector. Insurtech Australia (IA) has expressed concerns that, despite ASIC's genuine efforts, the ERS has not significantly impacted the insurance industry or the insurtech ecosystem. ([insurancenews.com.au](https://www.insurancenews.com.au/insurtech/asic-s-insurance-innovation-initiatives-ineffective?utm_source=openai)) - read more
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| Australian Commercial Insurance Rates Experience Significant Decline Sat, 28 Mar: The Australian commercial insurance market has witnessed a notable decline in premium rates, with a 12% drop recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025. This marks the largest decrease among the eight regions monitored by Marsh Risk's Global Insurance Market Index. ([insurancenews.com.au](https://www.insurancenews.com.au/the-broker/australia-leads-way-as-commercial-rate-slide-continues?utm_source=openai)) - read more
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| Soaring Insurance Premiums Impact Hospitality Businesses Sat, 28 Mar: The Australian hospitality industry is currently grappling with a significant surge in insurance premiums, a trend driven by a combination of increased claim frequencies and heightened risk factors. This escalation in costs poses a substantial financial burden on restaurant and café owners, many of whom are already contending with slim profit margins. - read more
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| Hospitality Industry Records Alarming Business Failure Rate Sat, 28 Mar: Recent data from Restaurant & Catering Australia (R&CA) reveals a concerning trend: the hospitality sector has experienced a 10.4% closure rate among foodservice businesses over the past year, marking the highest failure rate across all industries in the country. This statistic underscores the pressing challenges faced by restaurant and café owners, including escalating operational costs, labour shortages, and evolving consumer behaviours. - read more
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| Economic Pressures Propel Growth of Chain Restaurants in Australia Sat, 28 Mar: Australia's hospitality landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, marked by a shift from independently owned restaurants to chain establishments. Recent data indicates that the proportion of chain restaurants has increased from 23% to 24%, a trend attributed to mounting economic pressures and changing consumer preferences. - read more
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| Flex Introduces 'Flex Complex' for High-Risk Strata Properties Sat, 28 Mar: In October 2025, Flex, a strata underwriting agency, unveiled 'Flex Complex', a new insurance product designed to provide coverage for strata buildings facing challenges in securing insurance due to complex risk factors. This initiative aims to fill a significant gap in the market by offering protection to properties that have traditionally struggled to obtain mandatory strata insurance. - read more
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| CHOICE Advocates for Government Inquiry into Undisclosed Strata Insurance Commissions Sat, 28 Mar: In September 2024, consumer advocacy group CHOICE, along with several allied organizations, called for a government inquiry into undisclosed commissions and conflicts of interest within the strata insurance industry. This demand follows a CHOICE investigation that revealed widespread backroom dealings between strata management companies and insurance brokers, leading to increased costs for unit owners. - read more
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| Rising Strata Insurance Premiums in NT Challenge Cyclone Reinsurance Pool's Effectiveness Sat, 28 Mar: In January 2025, residents of Darwin and the broader Northern Territory reported significant increases in their strata insurance premiums, raising questions about the effectiveness of the federal government's cyclone reinsurance pool, established in 2022 to reduce insurance costs in cyclone-prone regions. - read more
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| Bhagwan Marine Achieves 19% EBITDA Growth in First Half of 2026 Fri, 27 Mar: Bhagwan Marine Limited, a leading Australian marine solutions provider, has reported a 19% growth in EBITDA margin for the first half of the 2026 financial year (1H26). This impressive performance reflects the company's strategic focus on revenue quality, cost control, and operational efficiency. - read more
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| Australian Government Allocates $30 Million to Enhance Marine Complex in Henderson Fri, 27 Mar: The Australian government has announced an initial investment of $30 million to enhance the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) in Henderson, Western Australia. This funding is part of a broader strategy to bolster the nation's sovereign naval shipbuilding and sustainment capabilities, contributing to economic diversification and job creation. - read more
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| Australian Brokers Favour Non-Bank Lenders for SME Financing Fri, 27 Mar: In the evolving landscape of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) financing in Australia, a significant trend has emerged: brokers are increasingly directing their clients towards non-bank lenders. This shift is primarily driven by the need for faster loan approvals and more streamlined application processes, especially for loans under $500,000. - read more
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| Moneytech Partners with AFG to Expand SME Financing Options Fri, 27 Mar: In a strategic move to bolster support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Australia, non-bank lender Moneytech has joined the Australian Finance Group's (AFG) lender panel. This partnership grants AFG's extensive broker network immediate access to Moneytech's comprehensive suite of SME-focused financial products, including working capital solutions, asset finance, and business loans. - read more
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| Renown Lending Boosts SME Funding to $400 Million Nationwide Fri, 27 Mar: In response to growing demand from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Australia, Renown Lending has announced a significant expansion of its funding pool, increasing it from $250 million to $400 million. This substantial boost is designed to provide comprehensive financial support to SMEs nationwide, addressing a variety of lending requirements. - read more
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