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:
This week: Tasmania appoints an industry veteran to design TasInsure, a proposed state-run insurer for households, SMEs and community groups. Victorian bushfire claims have exceeded about $200 million, with implications for premiums and cover in high‑risk areas. Broker transparency is set to lift, with stronger disclosure of fees and commissions for individuals and small businesses. And NSWs regulator fines an insurer over delayed CTP injury payments, underscoring tighter scrutiny of claim timeliness. Listeners are urged to compare quotes, check sums insured, and ask for itemised broker costs.
Hello and welcome to Insurance Online News with Paige Estritori, on Thursday, 29 January 2026.
First, Tasmanias push for a state-run insurer took a step forward. The government has appointed veteran advisor John Trowbridge to help design “TasInsure” for households, small businesses, and community groups. Supporters say it could improve access and affordability; critics warn the model will need careful governance and clear scope. For now, nothing changes for your cover, so keep comparing personal and business insurance quotes and, when the scheme details land, weigh it up alongside private options with broker guidance.
Meanwhile, claims from the recent Victorian bushfires have already topped about two hundred million dollars. Large catastrophe bills can flow through to premiums and underwriting appetite, especially in higher‑risk regions. If youre in a bushfire zone, check your sum insured, document assets, and ask your broker about resilience measures that can help you stay covered and avoid underinsurance.
On broker conduct, an updated response to the code of practice review backs clearer disclosure of broker fees and commissions to individuals and small businesses. Consumer groups still want stronger, enforceable obligations. What it means for you is simple: expect more upfront detail. Ask for an itemised summary of services and costs when you compare policies online or through a broker, so you can judge value, not just price.
And in claims oversight, the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority, SIRA, has penalised an insurer for delays in paying compulsory third party, or CTP, injury claims. Regulators are sharpening their focus on timeliness and fair treatment. If your claim stalls, keep a dated log of contacts, follow the insurers dispute process, and consider broker support to escalate—so youre not navigating it alone.
Thats it for this week. For fast, free quotes and expert help comparing cover for home, car, life, income protection or business, head to insuranceonline.com.au. Im Paige Estritori—thanks for listening, and talk soon.
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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Insurance Policy: Broadly, the entire written contract of insurance. More narrowly, the basic written or printed document, as distinguished from the forms and endorsements added thereto.
