Latest Australia Headlines
All the headlines from our Australia Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Australia Imposes Sanctions on Russian Citizen Over Hack of Insurer Medibank
Jan 23 2024 // Australia imposed cybersecurity sanctions for the first time on a Russian hacker over his role in the breach of healthcare insurer Medibank Private Ltd. that exposed the sensitive private data of millions of...
Two Australian Resource-Rich Regions Brace for Potentially Destructive Storms
Jan 22 2024 // Two Australian resource-rich regions are bracing for potentially damaging storms that could lead to flooding, the latest threats after months of extreme weather events. A tropical low developing in the Coral Sea off...
Cyclone Forming Near Australia’s Coast May Have ‘Severe Impact’
Jan 19 2024 // Australia’s resource-rich Queensland state is bracing for its second tropical cyclone in a little more than a month, with a storm off the coast expected to strengthen during the weekend. A tropical low developing in...
Australia’s Usual Summer of Wildfires Is Now Being Soaked by Prolonged Wet Weather
Jan 12 2024 // Australians bracing for a return of scorching heat and wildfires are instead battling a prolonged deluge of rain across the country’s east that’s inundated homes and damaged crops from sugar to wheat. Vast...
Update: Floods Strand Cows, Damage Crops as Wild Weather Hits Australia
Jan 9 2024 // Heavy rains and flooding across Australia’s southern state of Victoria has damaged crops and stranded cattle as a months-long run of wild weather on the nation’s east coast leaves a trail of destruction. Severe...
Climate Change Makes Forecasting Harder, Australia’s Agriculture Minister Says
Jan 2 2024 // Climate change is making it harder to accurately predict extreme weather events, said Australia’s agriculture minister Murray Watt, amid criticism the country’s meteorology department failed to provide timely...
Severe Storms Lash Australia’s East Coast, Killing 9 People
Dec 27 2023 // Nine people have died in Australia after severe storms lashed the nation’s east coast on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning there is a risk of more flash flooding even as the weather...
Australian Tourist Hotspot Inundated With Life-Threatening Floods After Cyclone Jaspar
Dec 18 2023 // A key tourism area in Australia’s far north has been inundated with life-threatening flooding after days of torrential rainfall in the wake of a tropical cyclone. Major flood and strong wind warnings have been issued...
Tropical Cyclone Jasper Barrels Towards Australian Tourism Hotspot
Dec 11 2023 // Australia’s far north coast is bracing for a cyclone that’s expected to bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall and potential flooding to an important tourism region. Tropical Cyclone Jasper, currently a category...
Australia Faces Increased Risk From Bushfires Ahead of El Niño Summer
Dec 4 2023 // Australia faces an increased risk of bushfires during the approaching summer, authorities warned on Thursday, with the El Niño weather pattern expected to generate hotter and drier conditions across large swathes of the...
Australia Revamps Cybersecurity Protections After Port Cyberattack
Nov 22 2023 // Australia will undertake an economy-wide revamp of its cybersecurity protections including revised data laws, mandatory reporting and a new nationwide cyber council in response to several significant hacks targeting...
DP World Attack ‘Stark Reminder’ About Prioritizing Cyber Spend: Australia Watchdog
Nov 21 2023 // Australia’s markets regulator wants companies and directors to prioritize cyber resilience, warning it will take action against businesses that fail to make reasonable investments to protect themselves. Australian...
Australian Telco Optus’ CEO Quits After Massive Network Outage and Cyber Attack
Nov 20 2023 // The head of Australia’s second-largest telco Optus resigned on Monday, cutting short a more than three-year tenure marred by a massive network-wide outage and one of Australia’s largest data breaches. Parent...
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires Australia’s Edgar Insurance Brokers
Nov 14 2023 // Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced the acquisition of Cobram, Victoria-based Edgar Insurance Brokers. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Edgar Insurance Brokers provides commercial insurance products and...
Cyber Attack Against Australia Port Operator Causes Massive Container Backlog
Nov 13 2023 // DP World Plc is struggling to work through a backlog of 30,000 shipping containers piled up at ports across Australia as the company resumes operations after a cyberattack. Friday’s hack on DP World, one of the...
Markets/Coverages: Coalition Offers Active Cyber Insurance in Australia
Nov 6 2023 // Coalition, the San Francisco-based cyber managing general agent and cyber-security firm, launched its suite of Active Cyber Insurance products in Australia. Active Cyber Insurance works with organizations to help them...
Australian Companies Face New Liability for Nature-Based Risks
Nov 2 2023 // Australian companies and directors could face legal action if they fail to identify and account for nature-based risks, according to a new opinion backed by lawyers and environmental groups, released Thursday. Directors...
Insurance Premiums Are Big Driver of Australian Inflation
Nov 1 2023 // Australian inflation is being driven by climate change, geopolitical shocks and government policies — factors typically beyond the Reserve Bank’s control. Yet economists still anticipate it will have to respond...
People Moves: Markel Hires Senior Leaders for Casualty, Professional, Financial Risk Teams in Australia; BHSI Promotes Regan to Head of Casualty, Ireland
Oct 31 2023 // This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Markel in Australia and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI). A summary of these new hires follows here. Markel Hires Senior Leaders in Australia...
Australia Court Rules Carnival Negligent Over Cruise’s COVID Risks in Landmark Ruling
Oct 26 2023 // A cruise operator that failed to cancel a voyage from Sydney that led to a major COVID-19 outbreak was ruled negligent in its duty of care to passengers in an Australian class-action case Wednesday. The Ruby Princess ocean...
