A number of insurance companies operating in Australia are lagging behind industry best practice when it comes to disclosure, according to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).
The regulator has made the assertion in a letter to general insurers and life companies this week outlining disclosure objectives but making it clear that it is hopeful that the insurance sector can take a self-regulatory approach.
"Qualitative disclosures that complement capital and other financial disclosures significantly enhance market discipline," the letter said.
"In particular, enhanced disclosure relating to corporate governance, remuneration practices and risk management would provide meaningful information to market participants."
"APRA would prefer that the insurance industry and individual insurers take the lead on improving public disclosures," it said.
"On this basis, APRA is not proposing to impose any additional Pillar 3 requirements on insurers at this time. Instead, this letter draws attention to industry better practice and suggests practical and effective steps that each insurer can take to enhance the quality of its public disclosures for prudential purposes."
Looking at current insurance industry practice, APRA noted that there was "a wide range of public disclosure practices, with a number of insurers lagging behind industry better practice".
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