Public Liability Insurance: The Essential Guide for Australian Builders [2025]

For most builders:

• Basic coverage: Same-day if all paperwork is ready
• Standard policies: 24-48 hours
• Complex coverage: 3-5 business days Emergency coverage can be arranged if you need it for an urgent project.

Your public liability insurance typically covers subcontractor incidents, but:

• The subcontractor must be named on your policy
• They should also have their own coverage
• Your excess may be higher for subcontractor claims Always check subcontractor coverage before they start work.

Yes, most policies include completed works coverage for:

• Damage arising from your completed work
• Claims made up to 7 years after completion
• Issues with installed products or materials But check your policy's specific completed works period.

It depends on:

• Your claims history
• The size of the claim
• Your risk management response Single claims typically increase premiums by 10-20%, but multiple claims can have a bigger impact.

Simply put:

• Public Liability: Covers physical damage or injury
• Professional Indemnity: Covers advice and design errors Many builders need both, especially if you provide any design input.