News

Running your own business is exciting. It can also be risky. As a business owner, you’re exposed to a variety of business risks that could damage your business, cause you extensive financial problems or even sink your business altogether. But if you’re protected with the right insurance, you can go about your work with the…

Insurance is something that most business owners set and forget. They simply don’t think about insurance unless they need to use it. Like your business, your insurance needs will change over time. It is a good idea to review your coverage periodically to make sure that you are not paying for insurance that you don’t…

It’s here – the moment that the insurance industry and consumers have been waiting for since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic – the final ruling on the appeal of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)’s business interruption case in the UK. It’s a ruling that is likely to have major repercussions for the insurance…

Did you know that cyber-attacks went up by 700% last year, leaving many Australian businesses feeling unprepared? A cybersecurity threat can lead to lost data and money. When your system gets taken over by ransomware, your business is held, hostage. A cyber insurance policy that covers you in the event of ransomware is a must…

The NSW Court of Appeal has ruled against insurers in the business interruption test case heard last month. As insuranceNEWS.com.au has reported, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) and Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) agreed to launch the case to resolve uncertainty about outdated wording in pandemic exclusions. Some Australian insurers’ policies still include exclusions…

The COVID-19 business interruption test case in Australia, initiated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), has finally concluded – with the New South Wales (NSW) Court of Appeal rejecting the industry’s argument that policies should not cover COVID-19 pandemic-related losses. The NSW Court of Appeal’s decision comes after…

Although bushfire season is here, this risk is only one of a host of different sources of fire. Arson is often the cause of fire and poor maintenance standards are another serious fire risk for businesses. For instance, damaged or old electrical cabling is all too often the cause of a fire, especially in older…

Business interruption (BI) policies are a hot topic in the insurance world – and Australia is no exception. A test case focused on BI claims denied by Hollard Insurance and HDI Global Specialty has been heard in the NSW Court of Appeal and is currently awaiting a decision. At the crux of the case are exclusion clauses in both…

Running a business has a number of responsibilities and associated risks whether you are a sole trader or global enterprise. Business insurance can protect you against the financial damage of business risks giving you peace of mind to concentrate on growing your business. In Australia, some insurances are compulsory – if you hire employees you…

Ken Dixon, Director of Dixon Insurance Brokers says “this as a great result prior to our client’s October 2 test case in the Appeals court of NSW in which the courts will be ruling on the Quarantine vs Biosecurity Act clauses in our Australian policy wordings” The day of judgement for the FCA business interruption…

Are you sure you are covered? Don’t wait until you need to claim to discover your policy isn’t what you need. If you’ve had the same insurance for a while it’s quite likely that your circumstances have changed since the policy was first taken out. As part of our client service we can handle your…

It’s a fast moving world, especially at the moment. Even though there’s so much going on, it’s essential to update your insurance broker any time your circumstances change to help ensure the cover you have in place is still appropriate for your enterprise. A popular business pivot many beer and spirit firms have undertaken in…

A hardening market can mean higher premiums and tougher underwriting decisions – so it pays to get an expert on your team. Like any market, the business insurance market experiences different cycles that can affect pricing and how easy it is to get cover. Depending on the stage of the cycle we’re in, this can…

Business policy exclusions which still refer to an act of parliament that was repealed almost five years ago could leave Australian insurers facing a lengthy legal battle and possible class actions, legal sources have warned. Insurers have been clear that the vast majority of business interruption claims relating to the COVID-19 outbreak and associated shutdown…

Heightened cyber risks have emerged as a serious issue, given most businesses now have many staff working from home. So it’s important to put in place policies and procedures to ensure data is secure no matter where staff are located. Helping staff to recognise and avoid risky behaviours is also part of a great cyber…

For business owners in Australia, insurance needs to be a priority. With so many potential threats to a business, having the right insurance coverage can keep your business and your personal finances significantly safer. The challenge for Australian entrepreneurs is that there are so many different types of insurance policies available that it can often…

While Australia has been relatively protected from the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-2019), many businesses have been disrupted due to travel, import and or export restrictions. The purpose of this paper is to explain and warn that general insurance is unlikely to provide the protection that it does for traditional risks such as fire, burglary or…

Product liability cover can vary, with claims depending on the individual business and the product it sells. Regardless, Product liability will ensure you are protected from the inevitable mishap. Product liability can provide protection for property damage or personal injury claims arising out of the use of a business’s product, or the failure of a…

With bushfires burning around the country, it’s important for homeowners in fire-prone areas to take steps to ensure they have the right insurance in place. This article from the Steadfast online magazine Well Covered, discusses risks of underinsurance, how to avoid mistakes and ensure homeowners have the right insurance in place, particularly in fire-prone areas.…

All business owners have a lot of challenges, but many fail to contemplate what might happen if their business is suddenly unable to trade. From illness or injury to a fire at your supplier’s warehouse, there are many ways that your profit generation could be suddenly halted. While there are many rewards to being a…

Starting a business is a risky business, which is why it pays to be prepared! While it is impossible to predict exactly which possible hardships may befall your company throughout its years of operation, it is possible to load up on the right business insurance that will provide you with coverage when you need it…

There are countless circumstances that may have a negative effect on your business, many of which are impossible to predict. The good news is that it is possible to prepare for any eventuality, thereby safeguarding your business from potential financial ruin. The best way to do this is with the right business insurance. However, as…

Australians are increasingly working from home, with the most recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicating at least a third of us choose to work from home at least part of the time. A study by future trends research house McCrindle shows there are lots of different reasons why people work from home. In total,…

Telematics technology has proven benefits when it comes to encouraging more responsible driving, with research indicating better driver behaviour is one of the main advantages in using this innovation. Black box or telematics technology is a way for businesses to collect data on how their employees are using company vehicles. Using telematics, businesses can collect…

Whether you run a charity, a not-for-profit, or regular live events, volunteer insurance exists to protect both you and the volunteers that work for you. From music festival ticket collectors to ongoing charity work, volunteers are often the most important part of your organisation, and they need to be protected from accidents. Volunteer Insurance will…

If you’ve scrimped and saved in the hopes of achieving financial security through an investment property it makes sense to insure such a valuable asset. It’s no secret that Australians are among the most real-estate obsessed people in the world. Around two million Australians own an investment property. A disproportionate number of these people have…

Many Australians, especially those who own businesses, discover they don’t have the cover they need in the worst possible circumstances. Insurance is one of those subjects that many people glaze over. So, just to test how knowledgeable you are about this important but unsexy topic, see how many of the following you can answer. Questions…

At Dixon Insurance, we have always championed the transparent and client focused service we provide to our clients. As Insurance Professionals, we are held accountable for our decisions and advice we provide to our clients because Insurance Brokers act for the client…NOT the Insurer. Since it came to light that Youi is being investigated for…

BREAKING NEWS: Insurer Youi under under ASIC investigation Accusations of dodgy sales tactics and defrauding customers have been levelled against Youi in Australia, mirroring recent charges laid against the company’s New Zealand branch. The South African insurer is now under investigation by the Australian Investment and Securities Commission (ASIC), according to a Fairfax report which…

The annual Insurance Business Elite Broker rankings have again been released. This time for 2016. It is with great pleasure that we can advise Ken Dixon has again ranked in the top 30. In 2016, Ken’s placing is 11th. It is humbling to be consistently ranked in the Elite Broker awards. This result cannot be made…

The Insurance Industry continues to use some terminology that confuses our clients. In an effort to provide clarity and to acknowledge the role we as brokers play, Jeff Hollands and Tremayne West, Directors of Westcourt General have taken an unprecedented step in ensuring that brokers within Westcourt are recognised as brokers. We are Authorised Representatives of…

It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Anita Dixon on taking out the prestigious Broker Employee Award with Westcourt General Insurance Brokers. Very often we forget the effort and contribution of staff. Our licensee elected to expand the awards this year to recognise the talents shown by Brokerage Staff Members. Her committment to our…

We have seen increases in government regulated fees across most industry sectors, from mining to transport, farming and manufacturing. Now it appears to be the Financial Services Industry’s turn to have increased fees imposed on us. Unfortunately, these sorts of imposts only mean premiums will rise as brokers seek to recoup the massive increases. The…

At Dixon Insurance Services, we look to support our clients and their events when we can. We were a sponsor at the 2014 Lockyer Valley Grower’s Association Gala Dinner and in 2015 attended the association’s Lockyer Valley Race Day. It was a day enjoyed by our staff and many of our clients. Catching up with…

Dixon Insurance Services was ready and able to respond to client losses as a result of Cyclone Marcia in February 2015. Brendon Reck who owns the Terry White Chemist franchise in Rockhampton has been a long standing client and suffered significant damage and potential losses when water inundated the Stockland Shopping Centre in North Rockhampton.…

The ICA has announced that they have declared a catastrophe for parts of central Queensland that was rocked by Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia last week. The storm, which made landfall at Yeppoon near Rockhampton, has created major damage in both cities with no deaths or serios injuries reported so far. ICA CEO Rob Whelan warned…

Government responds to TC Marcia Assistance available for affected residents of Rockhampton, Livingstone and Banana Brokers with clients from regions affected by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Marcia may be interested in passing on word of disaster recovery payments made available to hard-hit residents. The Federal Government has confirmed it will provide the Disaster Recovery Payment (DRP) to…

This is the latest news article from Insurance & Risk  Soft market no obstacle for Steadfast growth by James Chalmers | Broker Buzz 18 Feb 2015 Steadfast’s sights remain firmly set on growth, with the broking network announcing four new acquisitions. The firm released its half-year financial results on Monday, with fees and commissions up…