November
Why climate change will put your insurance premiums underwater
Decisions made by governments and developers in the past are now contributing directly to cost-of-living pressures for unsuspecting home owners.
Dire forecasts of stormy weather could affect how we build, and where
A new report from IAG warms of damaging hail becoming more common “along the Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane corridor” as warmer oceans drive cyclones southwards.
October
$42b ‘disaster penalty’ impacting flood zone homes
New modelling by the Climate Council shows home owners are paying a combined $42 billion “disaster penalty” due to climate-driven flooding.
‘Wicked problem’: Finding solutions for the looming insurance crisis
The UK’s Flood Re scheme, which helped four-out-of-five homes with previous flood claims reduce the cost of premiums by more than 50 per cent, is on the radar.
80pc of homes at severe flood risk lack insurance: report
The Insurance Council has called out the growing problem of flood-prone residents un- or underinsured, after steep premium rises.
September
Suncorp’s outgoing chairman delivers parting shot on climate action
Christine McLoughlin says the ugly projections for climate change-induced losses, released by the government last week, must be heeded as a call to action.
The climate charts that show what Australia will be like in 2050
A new report into the impact of rising global temperatures paints a grim picture of a disaster-ridden Australia.
August
Academics dived into action after devastating floods
Work to help communities build back better has earned Living Lab Northern Rivers this year’s UniSuper Think Great Award.
Suncorp lifts profit to $1.8b, says premium price rises are moderating
The pure play insurer says net profit is up 52 per cent, including gains from the sale of its bank to ANZ.
Insurance Australia Group sees profits jump after tech revamp
Chief executive Nick Hawkins says a new technology platform has simplified the business and allowed IAG to focus on acquiring new policyholders.
Higher premiums, lower disaster claims push QBE profits to over $1.5b
The insurer posted higher earnings and revenues for the first-half, but its shares fell on concerns over underlying profitability.
July
Warning signals rejected before youth camps swept away
Texas officials considered supplementing a word-of-mouth system with sirens and river gauges, along with other modern tools. In the end, little was done.
For the parents of Camp Mystic, an agonising wait for missing children
Group texts have flown with rumours about girls who had been found, and girls still missing. They exchanged phone numbers, stories, and prayers.
June
What is bombogenesis? The wild storm front hitting the east coast
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a weather warning for NSW and north-east Victorian coastal residents as a “bomb cyclone” makes landfall.
Australia’s growing ranks of uninsured has Mulino worried
The Financial Review Insurance Forum examined how risk-based pricing by insurance companies has created social equity problems.
A cemetery and flood risk made this $2.2m home a bargain
Faced with hurdles that would turn many buyers off, an agent emphasised the strengths of a property – successfully.
General insurers on notice over low-ball flood settlement offers
Consumer groups say their legal helplines are hearing appalling stories about vulnerable insurance customers forced to take lump sums to settle claims.
AI shortcuts climate threats to secure Australia’s drinking water
As extreme weather events become more common, UTS’s AI-based tool will be able to better predict raw water quality.
May
Liberals-Nationals peace deal looms but Littleproud’s leadership under pressure
The Liberals agree in-principle to a set of watered-down policy demands by the Nationals; four die in NSW floods, 678 rescues made. Follow live updates.
Parliament to return in July as PM prepares for spring wedding
Anthony Albanese will reconvene parliament on July 22; two people killed in a shooting at a Jewish museum in DC. How the day unfolded.