ClearView has declared that it has no intention of ever re-entering the direct life/risk insurance business.
In a submission responding to insurance hearings of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, ClearView has reinforced the timing of its exit from its direct business well before the Royal Commission and its intention never to re-engage.
Instead it said it would be focusing on its strengths in providing insurance by way of advisers.
“Clearview accepts that the cultures and practices that had developed in ClearView Direct were unacceptable and were not in the best interests of customers,” it said.
However, it said, “the cessation of the Direct business (with no intention to re-enter it) together with the customer remediation programme demonstrate a commitment to the best interests of the public and a culture of compliance and improvement”.
“It has also allowed Clearview to focus upon its core business and strengths, providing insurance and ‘in the advice space’,” the submission said.
Elsewhere in its submission, ClearView reinforced that it had been cooperative in dealing with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and suggestions that it had breached the anti-hawking provisions over 300,000 times did not take account of cases where third parties had gained consent.
The insurance company has joined this year’s awards as a principal partner.
The $135 billion fund has transitioned away from TAL Life Insurance following an “extensive tender process”.
The $80 billion fund is facing legal action over allegedly signing up new members to income protection insurance by default without active member consent.
In a Senate submission, the Financial Services Council has once again called for further clarification that the government will assess the consumer outcomes of group insurance against the enshrined objective of superannuation.