Insurance
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Banking RC recommendations address unfair insurance practices
5th Feb 2019The Banking Royal Commission report contains several specific recommendations that will ‘level the playing field’ for consumers, which has been skewed against them for too long, and will deter industry misconduct, said the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Draft FSC Code of Practice still fails to prevent harmful surveillance and excessive trawling of customers’ medical records
24th Jan 2019The draft Life Insurance Code of Practice tabled by the Financial Services Council (FSC) still fails to adequately protect consumers from excessive scrutiny of their medical records, harmful surveillance and forced ‘doctor-shopping’, according to the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Draft life insurance code of practice still ‘lacks teeth’ says plaintiff lawyers
22nd Jan 2019The draft life insurance Code of Practice tabled by the Financial Services Council (FSC) is still not legally binding and does not deliver on key issues raised in the Financial Services Royal Commission, according to the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Urgent reform needed to prevent insurers unfairly denying claims, says ALA
6th Nov 2018Insurers must be prevented from unfairly denying claims based on unrelated pre-existing health conditions and restricted from accessing medical records dating back more than five years prior to the policy inception, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Injured drivers will not be fairly compensated under proposed ACT MAI Bill
1st Nov 2018The proposed ACT Motor Accidents Insurance (MAI) Bill will not provide proper compensation to injured motorists and will shift the balance of power in favour of the insurers, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Insurance within superannuation is valuable but clear ratings system needed, says ALA
29th Oct 2018Clear facts-sheets and a ratings system are needed to make it easier for consumers to understand the costs and benefits of the death and disability insurance within their superannuation, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Expert evidence: Traffic accident reconstruction reports and physical observations
16th Oct 2018David Cormack discusses the decision and reasoning in the recent case of Brown v Daniels & Anor [2018] QSC 209.
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Superannuation and TPD Insurance: Four things you should tell every TPD client
11th Oct 2018Giving TPD insurance claimants specific information early on can stop them taking action that is potentially financially damaging and encourage them to think about how best to maximise their claim should it be successful.
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Lawyers call for inquiry into mental health insurance discrimination
15th Jun 2018The ALA is urging the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry to investigate discrimination by insurers on the basis of mental health.
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The NDIS and compensation
15th Mar 2018Tom Ballantyne gives an overview of the compensation claims process under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
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Security for costs: part 2
15th Feb 2018Read more about whether evidence of a policy from an ‘ATE’ insurer can suffice?
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Security for costs: part 1
8th Feb 2018Can evidence of a policy from an ‘ATE’ insurer suffice?
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Community to help improve CTP in Canberra
23rd Aug 2017The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has today welcomed Chief Minister Barr’s announcement that the ACT’s first citizen’s jury would soon be arranged to consider reform to the Territory’s Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance scheme.
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Superannuation disability insurance: tips and traps
17th Aug 2017This article offers ten tips for successful total and permanent disablement (TPD) claims under insurance held through superannuation.
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The path of destruction runs deep
27th Jul 2017Queensland residents have certainly experienced their fair share of natural disasters. It is important that we give consideration to how the law can provide clarity and security to those affected.
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TAC's new client app: MyTAC
22nd Jun 2017The Victorian Transport Accident Commission has produced an app specifically designed for people injured in transport accidents.
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How to protect your client's TPD money
8th Jun 2017There are simple strategies that can be implemented to make the most of any TPD claim, particularly minimising tax payments and maximising other benefit entitlements.
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TAC’s new rapid payment scheme
11th May 2017A most welcome and far-sighted scheme is about to be rolled-out by Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission (TAC).
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Nervous shock & psychiatric claims after the loss of a child
16th Feb 2017The law in Australia as it currently stands has the capacity to compound a parent’s grief in such circumstances and generate more than justified contempt towards the legal system. Particularly given the widely accepted view across the community would be that entitlement to compensation in such horrific circumstances would be considered both reasonable and appropriate.
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Interim ban on ethanol burners after a spate of accidents & injuries
9th Feb 2017In late 2016 there were a number of announcements about the interim, 60-day, banning of ethanol burners in Queensland, and across other states and territories. The bans followed 38 incidents in Queensland and 117 in total across Australia since 2010.
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Teen burn victim claims against party host
25th Jan 2017In 2013, a 16-year-old girl suffered third degree burns to 42% of her body at a house party when a teenage boy poured an accelerant on to an open fire at a house party. In July 2016, the Brisbane Times reported that the young woman is attempting to claim almost $12m in compensation for her ordeal.
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Life insurance industry code of conduct fails the litmus test
12th Oct 2016A Code of Practice designed to regulate life insurance companies would still allow them to deny genuine claims, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Banking inquiry was just a paper tiger
7th Oct 2016The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has renewed its call for a Royal Commission into the Australian banking system after the parliamentary inquiry failed to properly examine the systemic issues plaguing the industry.
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Beware Sunsuper Superannuation Insurance & TPD Changes
28th Jul 2016Sunsuper announced that from 1 July 2016, their superannuation insurance will be changing. These changes mark a radical shift in Total Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance. Greg Spinda briefly comments on the need for the changes and provides a summary of the pertinent changes to the TPD insurance cover.