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ICA WELCOMES NEW GOVERNMENT LINE-UP Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has appointed Stephen Jones as Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services Minister and has given climate change and cyber security portfolios an elevated focus within Cabinet. Murray Watt has been named Minister for Emergency Management, continuing in an area of responsibility held in a shadow capacity, while Chris Bowen has been appointed Climate Change and Energy Minister and Clare O’Neil becomes Minister for Cyber Security.
Mr Albanese announced the Ministry full line up after some key appointments, including Jim Chalmers as Treasurer, were confirmed before his trip to Japan for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue meeting. The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) says in the main, new ministers will provide continuity from Opposition for the sector, and it looks forward to working with Mr Jones on the implementation of the Northern Australian Reinsurance Pool, among other matters.
“There are no shortage of issues confronting ministers in portfolios that relate to insurance, and the ICA looks forward to continuing our work with those minsters we know well and those new to our areas of interest,” ICA CEO Andrew Hall said. Labor’s commitment to $200 million a year in mitigation funding, matching spending sought by ICA, was announced in January by Mr Albanese and Mr Watt ahead of the federal 0 election campaign.
There has been a stunning lack “ of development in [SMEs’] thinking and approach to cyber security. ” Cameron Research Project Director Ross Cameron on SMEs and cyber.
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TRIBUTES PAID TO GRAHAM STEVENS
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The broking industry has continued to pay tribute to Edgewise Director Graham Stevens, pictured, who died in May following a battle with cancer. Mr Stevens, most commonly known by his nickname “Bear”, was President of the National
Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) in 2014-15, and also served a two-year term as President of the World Federation of Insurance Intermediaries. A celebration of his life was held in Melbourne on June 3, and the winner of the NIBA Broker of the Year Award for Victoria/ Tasmania will from now on receive the Graham “Bear” Stevens Trophy. Steadfast MD Robert Kelly told insuranceNEWS.com.au Mr Stevens had been a business associate and personal friend for almost 40 years. “We were like brothers,” he said. “Graham was one of the foundation shareholders and board members of Steadfast. “He was one of the most generous people in terms of the time he would give to younger people. I always found him trustworthy, and honest in his criticism or praise about anything that I asked him.
“He was also the consummate gentleman and a family man, and he had a wide range of friends at all levels.” Mr Kelly says Mr Stevens was “a great advocate” for small and medium sized brokers in Australia, even though he was doing deals at the highest level. “He had a drive to make sure that people who needed advice got it in a way they could understand, and that there was transparency on remuneration. If you want an example of what an insurance broker should be, Graham was the epitome of it. “He got his nickname “Bear” because someone thought he looked like a fuzzy bear and the name stuck. It was a term of great endearment for those who knew him well.” Mr Stevens is survived by his wife Norma, daughters Rachael and Melinda and two grand0 daughters.
