Chartis Insurance, an international insurance group based in the U.S., has announced that it will be canceling the death and disability insurance policies of some 3,000 Australian soldiers serving in Afghanistan. The move is spurred by a shrinking insurance pool and a high rate of cancellations and payouts on claims. The company, which is a subsidiary of AIG, claims that the cancellations were necessary in order to continue providing benefits for holders of health policies. The problem, however, is that the Australian government is now left to handle the cost…
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Insurance Australia to acquire New Zealand’s AMI Ltd. in $286 million deal
The Insurance Australia Group Ltd, the nation’s largest home and auto insurer, has announced that it will be acquiring New Zealand’s AMI Ltd, one of the largest property insurers in New Zealand. The $286 million deal is already underway, but will require the approval of New Zealand’s insurance regulators before Insurance Australia can begin taking over policies. This is good news for those affected by the devastating earthquake that struck New Zealand in February of this year, as they will soon be able to enjoy policies from a larger, more…
Read MoreAustralia Flood Insurance News: Local councils fear cost shifting for flood insurance
Australian local government has brought cost shifting to the surface once more as it looks like the federal government’s flood insurance costs will be sent to local councils. Though cities such as Canberra have supported local government decisions to remove state government cost shifting, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has voiced its concerns regarding indications that the federal government is now considering putting the weight of flood risk insurance and carbon tax on local government shoulders. The ALGA has already been speaking out about its worries regarding the likely…
Read MoreAustralia’s disability program gets a shot in the arm
The Australian government’s Productivity Commission launched an inquiry into the nation’s disability insurance schemes and has release their findings in a report published this week. The commission found that the country’s current support system is unsustainable and does not provide enough support to the great amount of people suffering from disabilities. The commission is proposing a $12 billion a year insurance scheme. Currently, the government spends $6.2 billion per year insuring the disabled. An additional $6.3 billion will be needed to help another 360,000 disabled Australians. The insurance coverage would…
Read MoreForced place insurance for businesses in Austrailia
In light of the recent disasters befalling the nation, the Australian government may be setting up an inquiry to determine whether states should be forced to purchase commercial insurance policies to cover natural disasters. Legislators are currently pushing to pass a $1.8 billion deal that would help reconstruct levees. The possibility of an inquiry was raised when Treasurer Wayne Swan suggested that there “legitimate questions” about what states had done regarding insurance. Swan said that “it is probably timely for us to evaluate all of those questions, to have a…
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