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:
Paige Estritori covers four Australian insurance updates for the week ending 12 February 2026: NSWs Emergency Services Levy reforms move forward with guidance coming; NSW passes workers compensation changes with an 18‑month premium freeze and staged psychological injury thresholds; commercial insurance pricing softens with greater capacity, making this a good time to re‑market and compare; and a new cyber specialist launches in Australia, giving SMEs more options to align cover with cyber risk. Listeners are invited to compare personal and business insurance at insuranceonline.com.au.
Hello and welcome to Insurance Online News, Im Paige Estritori, and its Thursday, 12 February 2026.
First up, New South Wales Emergency Services Levy, or ESL, is edging towards reform. The states monitor has been meeting insurers and plans to issue guidance on expectations ahead of the levy being removed from premiums. Theres no start date yet, so dont expect instant price changes, but do watch for insurer communications. If youre in NSW, make sure your contact details are current and be ready to compare policies when timings are confirmed so youre not overpaying.
Meanwhile, NSW parliament has passed a workers compensation overhaul after months of deadlock. It includes an 18‑month freeze on average premium increases, plus a staged lift to the threshold for psychological injury benefits — rising from 21% today to 25% on 1 July 2026, 27% in 2027, and 28% from 1 July 2029. That should ease near‑term pressure for employers, but it changes how some claims are supported. Check in with your broker, update budgets and return‑to‑work plans, and make sure your broader business cover aligns with your risk profile.
Next up, the commercial insurance market stayed buyer‑friendly through the December quarter. A major market update says Australian prices fell by as much as about 20%, with abundant capacity and flexible underwriting. Directors and officers cover, cyber and casualty kept softening, while property also eased — though assets with heavy natural‑catastrophe exposure still face scrutiny. If youre renewing soon, its a good moment to re‑market, compare limits and deductibles, and consider multi‑year terms where appropriate.
And finally, more choice is landing in cyber insurance. A Zurich‑backed specialist has launched locally, targeting small and medium businesses with an AI‑driven platform and added risk insights. With many SMEs still under‑insured for cyber incidents, this extra competition is timely. Use it to review your incident‑response plan, confirm exclusions, and check that your limits match your actual exposure before your next renewal.
Thats the wrap. For fast, free quotes and expert help comparing personal and business cover, head to insuranceonline.com.au. Im Paige Estritori — thanks for listening, and Ill see 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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Insurance broker: An agent acting on behalf of the insured (not the insurance company) who negotiates the terms and cover provided by the insurer in the insurance policy.
