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: ASIC sues over misleading “comparison” websites and urges clearer disclosures; the ACCC blocks IAGs bid for RAC Insurance in WA, with IAG pursuing a new public‑interest path; an Australian AI flood tool may cut flood‑risk premiums for some elevated homes; and an AFCA decision sees a travel insurer pay an emergency dental claim after review. Listeners are urged to verify comparison services, keep shopping around, ask brokers to use the latest risk data, and challenge claim denials with evidence.
Hello and welcome to Insurance Online News with Paige Estritori for Thursday, 24 September 2026.
First today, the corporate regulator ASIC — thats the Australian Securities and Investments Commission — has launched court action against a marketing outfit it says misled people with so‑called “insurance comparison” websites. ASIC alleges the sites didnt actually compare multiple providers or give tailored recommendations, and instead sold enquiries to the highest bidder. If youre comparing cover online, check disclosures carefully and look for licensed services. To save time and avoid surprises, use trusted brokers and get like‑for‑like quotes you can actually compare.
Next up, the competition watchdog ACCC — the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission — has opposed IAGs planned purchase of RAC Insurance in Western Australia. IAG says it will keep pursuing approval via a new public‑interest pathway introduced this year. For WA motorists and homeowners, nothing changes today, but consolidation can affect choice and pricing over time. Keep shopping around and ask an independent broker to canvas multiple insurers for you.
Meanwhile, theres promising tech on flood risk. A new First Floor Elevation tool, developed in Australia and using AI — artificial intelligence — to read aerial and ground imagery, lets insurers price at a building‑by‑building level. Early modelling suggests about 13 per cent of at‑risk homes could see the flood portion of premiums drop by around 50 per cent where raised floors are proven. Practical tip: when seeking home or business property cover, have accurate building details ready and ask whether your quote reflects the latest flood modelling.
And finally, an AFCA ruling — thats the Australian Financial Complaints Authority — ordered a travel insurer to pay an emergency dental claim after its own medical adviser undercut the original denial. Its a reminder to read definitions, keep medical notes, and challenge a knock‑back if the facts support you. A broker can help you frame a clear, policy‑based case.
Thats it for this week. For fast, free personal and business insurance quotes and expert help comparing policies, 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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Knowledgebase
Moral Hazard: The concept that individuals may take on more risk when they do not bear the full consequences of that risk, often relevant in insurance scenarios.
