The Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby (ACIL) is calling on the General Insurance Code Governance Committee (CGC) to release the identity of the insurer found to have breached the General Insurance Code of Practice. The CGC’s decision to withhold the insurer’s name undermines transparency, weakens public confidence in the regulatory process, and reduces the deterrent effect of Code enforcement.
“Consumers and industry stakeholders deserve to know when an insurer has failed to meet its obligations,” said ACIL Chairperson Tyrone Shandiman. “The justification that the insurer demonstrated a ‘proactive and effective response’ does not negate the right to transparency. Accountability should not be contingent on cooperation—it should be a fundamental expectation. While the CGC may impose financial penalties such as the $100,000 sanction, this is a negligible expense for insurers with multi-billion dollar balance sheets. The real consequence for misconduct should be reputational—insurers must know that if they breach the Code, their actions will be made public.”
The refusal to name the insurer not only limits awareness among affected policyholders, potentially preventing them from recognising their right to take action, but also raises broader concerns about regulatory independence. The CGC must prioritise consumer trust over industry relationships by ensuring that breaches are handled with full disclosure. Consumers have a right to be informed, and transparency is critical to empowering them to make informed decisions.
“By keeping the insurer’s identity hidden, the CGC is sending the wrong message—that breaches can be quietly resolved behind closed doors, without meaningful consequences,” Shandiman said. “This approach weakens consumer confidence in the industry at a time when trust in the sector is already low and transparency is more critical than ever.”
ACIL urges the CGC to reconsider its stance and publicly name the insurer involved. The industry cannot expect to rebuild trust if accountability is not upheld.
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