The Terrorism Insurance Bill 2002 was introduced into the House of Representatives today.
The Bill provides the framework for a scheme to insure against terrorist risk, an area where cover has been withdrawn by insurance and reinsurance companies in the wake of the events of September 11 2001. This scheme will bring certainty to owners, developers, financiers, investors and tenants of commercial property.
The legislation deems terrorism risk cover into eligible insurance contracts, and establishes the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation. Eligible insurance contracts that are in force at, or after, 30 June 2003 are taken to provide the same amount of insurance cover, in relation to the underlying property, for eligible terrorism losses as the contract provides for losses or liabilities arising from other causes.
Insurance companies will be able to reinsure the risk of claims for eligible terrorism losses through the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation. Premiums that insurance companies pay for reinsurance through the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation will build up the first layer of funds (an expected pool of $300 million) available to cover claims from declared terrorist incidents. The pool will be supplemented by a back-up bank line of credit of $1 billion, underwritten by the Commonwealth, as well as a Commonwealth Government indemnity of $9 billion, giving aggregate cover of up to $10.3 billion when the pool is fully funded.
Regulations will be tabled in Parliament in the New Year to specify contracts to be covered in the scheme in accordance with the Government's 2002 announcement.
The legislation allows the Treasurer to direct the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation to set particular premiums for reinsurance contracts. Premiums will depend on the risk of insured properties and facilities, and are expected to cost from around 2 per cent of underlying base premium, with surcharges of 10 per cent and 2 per cent applying to properties located in capital city CBDs and other urban areas respectively (to be designated by postcodes). Contracts between the Corporation and the relevant insurance company will establish this amount specifically.
My press release of 25 October 2002 indicated that should a terrorist event occur, the insurance industry will bear the first $10 million of claims, subject to an individual company exposure limit of $1 million. The individual company retention is on a per annum basis. The Government Scheme will operate to pay claims above the insurers' retention. This retention will apply where insurers reinsure through the Corporation. The retention would be set in the reinsurance contract between the Corporation and the insurer.
The Government has developed this scheme in consultation with key industry stakeholders - including insurance and reinsurance companies, banks, representatives of property owners, industry associations, insurance brokers and actuaries. Over coming months we will continue to work with these stakeholders to fine-tune arrangements, and to ensure the entire framework will be operational for commencement of terrorism risk cover on 30 June 2003.