The Treasurer today announced that the Treasury will be undertaking a process of consultation to determine a response to the withdrawal of insurance cover for terrorist risk in non-statutory classes of insurance and what form those arrangements might take.
Action may be required as a result of advice from international reinsurers that cover for terrorism will be removed on all new treaty reinsurance from 1 January 2002 and that terrorist cover on facultative reinsurance has been withdrawn for new risks and is being withdrawn as existing policies come up for renewal.
After consulting with the insurance industry and other key stakeholders, Treasury will provide advice to the Government in early 2002. The Commonwealth will also consider bringing indemnities currently being provided to the aviation sector into the broader solution.
In considering potential options, the Government will have regard to arrangements that have been implemented or are in the process of being implemented in other countries.
It cannot be assumed that the outcome of the consultation process will involve the Commonwealth Government providing indemnities or financial assurances to the insurance industry, or particular sectors of the economy. Since insurance is a commercial matter, obviously it will be necessary to engage the private sector in risk allocation and pricing indemnities.
The Government has consulted with State and Territory Governments regarding their statutory insurance schemes, particularly workers' compensation and compulsory third party insurance arrangements, and understands that the States and Territories are considering the implications of the withdrawal of insurance cover in those classes and are taking steps to deal with the problem.