Risk solutions for venues and large public gatherings
Mindful that large public gatherings are often favoured targets for people who want to cause mass disruption and chaos or who want to send a loud message, global insurance brokerage and risk management experts Arthur J. Gallagher’s Australian team has been sharing its risk expertise.
Aware that siege or terrorist attacks are a growing risk not only around the world but also in Australia, Natasha Barker, Manager Corporate at Arthur J. Gallagher’s Sydney team explains “news broadcasts are showing more and more attacks with tragic outcomes occurring around the world: attacks in Brussels at the airport and metro station; a few months earlier a rock concert in Paris; and in recent years shopping centres in Kenya; colleges and schools as well as cinema theatres in the US; and hotels in Tunisia and India; the list is too long.
“There has been a general consensus that Australia is safe. However, many view that our ‘laid back’, ‘she’ll be right’ culture and perceived complacency could make us an ‘easy’ target.
“There appears to be more speculation that it’s only a matter of time before something extreme happens here.
“Of course we have in the past had our own terrible events such as the Port Arthur massacre and more recently the Lindt café siege in Sydney.
“As we provide risk and insurance solutions to many large public venues and places (arenas, stadium, convention centres), shopping centres, hotels, and large markets, this subject is increasingly raised with us.
“Our team is positioned well to assist our clients with their risk management objectives in meeting this increased exposure.
“Whilst we are confident that our clients are placing strong emphasis on this increased exposure and taking appropriate action to manage this risk to ensure they continue to be a safe place to visit, insurance is another form of risk management and an area where we can provide proactive advice and assistance.
“We are often asked about cover for ‘terrorism’ and frequently provide advice about how insurance policies will respond to a deemed ‘terrorist act’ in Australia, alongside the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation (ARPC).
“However the ARPC may not respond to all type of incidents or losses following attacks by assailants.
“For example, there have been many events around the world that have been lone-shooter driven, rather than terrorism driven. Unless an event is deemed by a Minister as an ‘act of terrorism’ the ARPC would not respond.
“We are able to provide advice on new insurance products emerging in the Australian market which can assist with gaps in traditional insurance policies for these other types of attacks and resulting losses.”
One such new product recently launched by XL Catlin is their ‘Active Assailants’ Crisis Management insurance policy, intended to complement traditional property insurance policies and to help clients prepare for and recover from malicious physical attacks resulting in bodily injury to either their own employees, contractors or visitors at their location.
In addition to covering loss of income and physical loss/damage to property, and backed by expert crisis response services, XL Catlin’s policy will also cover extra expenses incurred in managing and recovering from an incident including but not restricted to public relations consultancy costs, relocation expenses, counselling and/or psychiatric care costs, medical expenses, job retraining costs, recruitment costs, and temporary security costs.
Barker adds “putting this all into perspective, hopefully the chance of something occurring in Australia is low due to the strong attention our corporations and businesses place on risk management, the ‘tighter’ gun controls in this country and also the Australian government’s assurances about our strong level of national security.
“Hopefully we will never be required to have to deal with a type of attack or siege in Australia the likes of which we have witnessed around the world in recent times.
“However, the fact is these threats are real, complex and ever changing.
“We encourage our clients to contact us with any questions or concerns about the role an insurance program can play in helping recover from an event such as we have seen played out in recent times.
“Our aim is to help position you to deal with the impact of these events on your own people, visitors, property and loss of income.”
Click here to contact Natasha Barker or other members of the Arthur J. Gallagher team via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.
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