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 10 September 2026: a Federal Court ruling against a comparison site for misleading insurer panels; calls to reform NSWs Emergency Services Levy amid surging construction costs; concerns from IBCCC and AFCA about broker commission disclosure for small businesses; and a Queensland trial of a home resilience rating app that could influence pricing. Takeaways: verify whos compared and how theyre paid, review sums insured in NSW, request a dollar breakdown of broker remuneration, and consider resilience upgrades. Visit insuranceonline.com.au for free quotes and broker support.
Hello and welcome to Insurance Online News, Im Paige Estritori, and its Thursday, 10 September 2026.
First, a court decision that matters if you compare policies online. The Federal Court found a major comparison site misled consumers about how many life and funeral insurers it actually compared. For listeners, the message is simple: when you compare insurance online, check which insurers are included and how the site is paid, and ask for the full panel in writing. If youd like independent help, our Australia‑wide brokers can source options and explain the differences so you can compare like‑for‑like without the guesswork.
Next up, the Emergency Services Levy in New South Wales is back in the spotlight. Industry leaders told a state inquiry on Tuesday that rising construction costs are pushing premiums higher, and the levy stacked on top could push some households and small businesses out of cover. If youre in NSW, review your sum insured now and talk to a broker about ways to keep essential cover while avoiding underinsurance as policy costs change.
Meanwhile, transparency for small business buyers is under review. The Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, or AFCA, have warned MPs that the draft brokers code may not require enough disclosure about how brokers are paid. If you run a business, ask your broker for a clear, dollar‑value breakdown of commissions and fees before you decide. It takes minutes and helps you compare providers on service and value, not just premium.
And finally, a practical development for homeowners in Queensland. A new trial on the Gold Coast is testing a self‑assessment app from the Resilient Building Council that rates how a home stands up to flood, storm, cyclone and bushfire. The idea is to recognise upgrades with a standard resilience rating, which some insurers already use for bushfire pricing, with flood and storm to follow. If youre in a hazard‑prone area, simple upgrades like securing roofs, clearing gutters and improving drainage can boost your rating and expand your cover options.
Thats it for this week. For fast, free personal and business insurance quotes, and expert support from independent brokers, head to insuranceonline.com.au. Im Paige Estritori, 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.
Follow us!
We are a proud member of the Financial Services Online network!
Connect with us on your favourite social media platform for the latest financial news, views, resources and information.
Recent transport and fleet industry coverage continues to point to a steady increase in electric and low-emission heavy vehicles across Australian logistics operations. For many operators, the attraction is clear: quieter vehicles, lower tailpipe emissions, potential fuel savings and stronger alignment with customer sustainability targets. But the insurance conversation is now becoming more detailed than simply replacing a diesel truck with an electric one. - read more
APRA’s latest quarterly general insurance statistics point to a market that is still under cost pressure, even as insurers continue to report stronger overall results than during the worst of the recent claims cycle. For Australian tradespeople, the headline is not simply whether insurers are profitable. The practical issue is how rising premiums, repair costs, reinsurance expenses and claims activity flow through to the price and availability of cover used every day on the tools. - read more
Australia’s financial advice reform agenda has taken another important step, with industry attention turning to how simpler, more accessible guidance could help consumers make better decisions about insurance. For workers who rely on income insurance or salary continuance cover, the issue is more practical than political: many people hold cover they do not fully understand until illness or injury forces them to test it. - read more
Recent transport and insurance industry attention on lithium-ion battery safety is a timely warning for Australian truck operators. The issue is no longer limited to consumer products catching fire in homes or warehouses. Batteries now move through freight networks in tools, scooters, e-bikes, electronics, spare parts and energy storage equipment, and that creates a different risk profile for carriers, depots and subcontracted linehaul work. - read more
Australia’s latest seasonal bushfire outlook is a practical reminder that fire risk is not confined to the height of summer. For many farms, the exposure begins well before a catastrophic fire day is declared, as grass growth, drying winds, stored fodder, machinery movement and access limitations combine to create a more complex risk profile than a standard rural home policy can address. - read more
Household insurance, commonly referred to as home insurance, is a type of policy that provides financial protection for your home and belongings against damage, theft, or loss. In Australia, this type of insurance is crucial for homeowners and renters alike, offering peace of mind in the face of unexpected events. It's designed to help you recover and rebuild without bearing the full financial burden yourself. - read more
Choosing a sum insured is one of the most important parts of arranging home and contents insurance. This guide explains the difference between rebuild cost, market value and contents value, how underinsurance can happen, and how Australians can review their cover more confidently. - read more
Home insurance serves as a critical safety net for homeowners, providing peace of mind and financial protection from unexpected events. In Australia, where Mother Nature’s whims can often result in extreme weather conditions, securing a robust home insurance policy isn't just wise—it's practically a necessity for safeguarding one of life's biggest investments. - read more
Choosing the right home insurance policy is akin to laying a safety net beneath your most valuable investment. With the Australian climate presenting a unique set of challenges, from bushfires to flooding, ensuring you have comprehensive cover isn't just a luxury—it's a necessity. The right policy serves as an armor, protecting your sanctuary against the unexpected onslaughts of nature and misfortune. - read more
Home and contents insurance can provide valuable protection, but every policy has exclusions, limits and conditions. This guide explains common exclusions in Australian policies and what to check before buying, renewing or claiming. - read more
Knowledgebase
Indemnity: A legal principle that stipulates that insurance policies should restore the insured to the financial position they were in before the loss.
