Australia: Insurance Laws and Products

Trauma insurance, also known as critical illness insurance, provides financial protection to policyholders diagnosed with specific serious medical conditions. In Australia, it is often offered separately or alongside total and permanent disability (TPD) cover, term life insurance, or continuous disability insurance.

The NSW Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 has passed both houses and received assent, introducing significant reforms to building regulation and insurance requirements. Key changes include expanded coverage for Decennial Liability Insurance, enhanced powers for NSW Fair Trading and the Building Commission, and modifications to professional indemnity insurance exemptions for building practitioners. While some provisions take immediate effect, major reforms including the DLI expansion

In Gawthrop v Bendigo Health [2026] VSC 157, the Supreme Court of Victoria examined the context surrounding informed consent. The plaintiff presenting to hospital in labour was advised to undergo a vaginal examination as part of routine care for admission to the birthing unit.