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: a draft enforceable general insurance code proposes faster claim decisions, stronger consumer protections and consultation to 21 July. NSWs emergency services levy is forecast to climb, keeping pressure on premiums while reform is reviewed. APRA warns quantum and frontier AI risks are bringing cyber threats forward and urges immediate resilience steps. Victoria advances regulations for 10‑year, first‑resort apartment defects insurance after new legislation. Listeners are urged to review cover, check levies on invoices, and compare policies with broker support at insuranceonline.com.au.
Hello and welcome to Insurance Online News with Paige Estritori, its Thursday, 25 June 2026.
First, Australias general insurance code is getting a major overhaul. The industry has released a draft code that, for the first time, would be legally enforceable in policies. It proposes automatic acceptance of home and motor claims if no decision is made after 12 months, tighter standards for expert reports, broader support for vulnerable customers and stronger family‑violence protections, with consultation open until July 21. For households and small businesses, this points to clearer timelines and fewer dead ends on claims. If your cover is up for renewal, use this momentum to compare policies and service standards side by side.
Next up, New South Wales. The state budget shows emergency services levy collections are set to top about one and a half billion dollars next year, with estimates higher than last years projections. Business groups say the levy can add around a quarter to general business insurance premiums, and the governments inquiry into reform is due to report by November 18. If youre in NSW, check your invoice for ESL and duties; knowing those line items helps you compare total costs accurately and avoid underinsuring.
Meanwhile, the prudential regulator APRA says the timeline to so‑called Q‑Day, when quantum computing can break todays encryption, may be moving closer, and frontier AI is accelerating cyber risk. Boards are being pressed to map where they rely on cryptography across systems and suppliers, and to lift controls now, not later. For SMEs and professionals, this is a reminder to review cyber cover terms, incident response and backups, and to compare policies that align with your actual data and continuity risks.
And in Victoria, the government is pushing ahead with regulations for decennial, first‑resort insurance on apartment building defects after enabling legislation passed the upper house last week. Its modelled on NSW and would allow owners corporations to claim for serious defects for up to 10 years without needing to prove who was at fault, with an interim developer bond scheme slated for next year. Buyers, strata committees and developers should watch the rollout timetable and factor defects protection into contracts and insurance planning.
Thats it for this week. For fast, free quotes and expert broker support to compare personal and business insurance, head to insuranceonline.com.au. Im Paige Estritori—thanks for listening, and Ill catch 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.
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Knowledgebase
Coverage: The amount of risk or liability covered for an individual or entity by way of insurance services.
