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 on Insurance Online News, Paige Estritori covers four updates: the ACCC pushes its decision on IAGs bid for RAC Insurance to 11 December; Cyclone Fina forms in the Arafura Sea and may approach the Northern Territory this week; an AFCA ruling shows how ‘storm surge exclusions can decide claims; and a new survey finds insurance is a major cost pressure for small businesses. Takeaways: compare policies, check definitions for storm, flood and storm surge, consider risk‑mitigation and policy adjustments, and use brokers to find value.
Hello and welcome to Insurance Online News, Im Paige Estritori, and its Thursday, 20 November 2025.
First, the competition watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, has delayed its call on IAGs proposed purchase of RAC Insurances underwriting arm. The decision date is now 11 December, as the regulator reviews extra information and weighs market concentration, particularly in Western Australia. For households and small businesses, this goes to choice and pricing. Keep comparing options, and if you use a broker they can test the market for you and find cover that fits your needs and budget.
Next up, the seasons first tropical cyclone, Fina, has formed in the Arafura Sea and could move towards the Northern Territory coast late this week. The Bureau of Meteorology expects it to strengthen before tracking south. If youre in the Top End or planning travel or freight there, review your home, contents or business policy now. Check how your cover treats storm, flood and storm surge, take photos of assets, and speak with a broker if you need help closing gaps.
Meanwhile, a fresh ruling from the Australian Financial Complaints Authority highlights how policy wording can decide outcomes. A homeowners claim for storm damage was knocked back because the loss was caused by storm surge, which the policy defined as an excluded “action of the sea”. The insurer was told to pay a small amount for delays, but the core decision stood. Your move this week: read the product disclosure statement, or PDS, and look for the definitions of storm, flood and actions of the sea; if youre unsure, ask a broker to explain and compare alternatives.
And finally, a new survey of small businesses reports insurance is one of the biggest cost pressures, alongside taxes and wages, with many owners struggling to maintain cover, especially in flood‑prone areas. If premiums are biting, consider a coverage audit rather than cutting essential protection. Adjusting sums insured, reviewing excesses, bundling policies, and documenting risk‑mitigation steps can help sharpen quotes. Our broker network can do the heavy lifting and provide fast, like‑for‑like comparisons.
Thats it for this week. For free, fast personal and business insurance quotes and expert help, head to insuranceonline.com.au.
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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