A national insurance crisis looms. The Morrison government's $10 billion 'pool' plan won't fix it

By Antonia Settle, Academic (McKenzie Postdoctoral Research Fellow), The University of Melbourne

As climate change intensifies extreme weather events, home and building insurance premiums have been rising, particularly in Northern Australia.

As premiums rise, more people are choosing drop their insurance coverage, risking financial disaster when the next natural disaster hits.

The consequences of this are so dire that the Morrison government has committed A$10 billion to a “reinsurance pool” to bring home insurance premiums down in northern Australia.

It’s an attractive policy option — simple and quick. Though it exposes the government to potentially…

Read complete article

~	A tax on sugary drinks can make us healthier. It’s time for Australia to introduce one

~	Australian churches collectively raise billions of dollars a year – why aren’t they taxed?

~	What Australia can learn from Latin America when it comes to tackling violence against women

~	Nuclear power makes no sense for Australia – but it’s a useful diversion from real climate action

~	Real comedy, real trauma: how Baby Reindeer and Feel Good are forging a new television genre

~	As New Zealand CBDs evolve post-pandemic, repurposing old or empty spaces should be on the drawing board

~	Houston area’s flood problems offer lessons for cities trying to adapt to a changing climate

~	Fractured futures: Upward mobility for immigrants is a myth as their health declines

~	The scaling back of Saudi Arabia’s proposed urban mega-project sends a clear warning to other would-be utopias

~	Setting the record straight on refugee claims by international students