Suncorp Group Limited on behalf of itself and other providers of Insurance

On 1 April 2020, Suncorp Group Limited (Suncorp) lodged an application for authorisation to enable insurance companies and brokers to coordinate and implement relief measures for policyholders (predominately small to medium size enterprises) suffering hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Suncorp is seeking authorisation for itself, Allianz Australia Limited, QBE Insurance Australia Limited, and other insurers and brokers that in the future wish to engage in the conduct. Suncorp requested interim authorisation for this conduct on an urgent basis so that the insurers could start providing relief immediately to policyholders.

On 2 April 2020, the ACCC granted interim authorisation to allow Suncorp, Allianz, QBE and all parties that notified the ACCC, to engage in the conduct while the ACCC considered the substantive application for authorisation. A register of all the insurers and brokers that notified the ACCC as at 15 July 2020 is below.

On 10 June 2020, the ACCC issued a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation until 31 December 2020. The full Draft Determination document can be found below.

On 9 July 2020, the ACCC granted authorisation until 31 December 2020 to allow participating insurers and brokers to implement any relief measures they offered to policyholders whose policies expire up to and including 30 June 2020. The authorisation does not extend to the participating insurers and brokers agreeing or co-ordinating the offering of any new relief measures beyond the 30 June 2020. The full Final Determination document can be found below. 

If no application for review of the determination is made to the Australian Competition Tribunal, the authorisation will come into force on 31 July 2020.

Further information on the application for authorisation, including the contents of the support package, is available in the application, linked below.

An indicative timetable is set out below for your information.