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 on Insurance Online News, Paige covers rising cyber risks with experts warning of more breaches and costly scams, and why small businesses and households should review cyber and identity theft cover. She then looks at holiday travel disruptions—from major European rail cancellations to an Australian cruise grounding—and how travel insurance for delays, missed connections, and cruise activities can help. Finally, she explains how 2026 economic uncertainty and potential RBA rate moves affect rebuild costs and sums insured, urging quick policy reviews to avoid underinsurance. Compare options and get broker help at insuranceonline.com.au.
Hello and welcome to Insurance Online News with me, Paige Estritori, for Thursday, January 1, 2026.
First up, cyber risks are in the spotlight. Australias privacy regulator, the OAIC, says reported data breaches topped the five-hundred mark in the first half of last year and signs point to even more in the second half. Experts warn ransom demands and business email compromise remain costly for households and small businesses. If you run a business, check your cyber cover includes incident response and business interruption. For families, consider identity theft and online fraud benefits as part of your home or standalone policies. You can compare options quickly and get broker help through Insurance Online.
Meanwhile, holiday travel has been bumpy. Major rail cancellations in Europe left passengers stranded this week, and an Australian expedition cruise ran aground in Papua New Guinea with travellers flown home. Its a reminder that travel plans can unravel fast. Before you go, compare policies for delays, missed connections, and supplier issues, and make sure adventure or cruise activities are covered. Keep receipts and lodge claims as soon as its safe to do so.
Looking ahead, economists say 2026 could bring more interest rate uncertainty from the RBA, the Reserve Bank of Australia, plus ongoing price pressures. That matters for insurance because rebuild and repair costs feed directly into sums insured. Take an hour this week to update your home, contents and motor values, and for business owners, review stock, equipment and interruption limits. Comparing cover can help you avoid underinsurance while keeping costs in check.
Thats it for today. For free, fast quotes and friendly broker support nationwide, 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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