Public liability insurance

For when the public
gets involved.

A customer slips, a job damages a client’s property, something you sold goes wrong. Compare public liability across insurers in one form, at the limit your lease or contract asks for, and a real broker places the policy.

Gary at a hardware shop counter handing the owner a certificate in a manila folder

What it responds to

Someone hurt. Something broken.

Public liability is about accidents involving other people and their property. A client’s money, lost to your advice, is a different policy.

A customer slips

Injury to the public

Someone is hurt at your premises, or because of your work. Public liability responds to claims like that, on the terms of the PDS.

A visitor trips on a cable

Your premises

An office counts as much as a shop. Clients, couriers and visitors are all members of the public.

The job floods downstairs

Damage to other people’s property

Your work damages someone else’s property, like a drilled pipe or a scorched benchtop. Fixing your own work is a different matter.

Something you sold goes wrong

Products liability

Injury or damage caused by something you sold, supplied or installed, after it has left your hands. Most packs include it beside public liability.

Being right still costs money

Legal defence costs

Defending a claim costs money even when you’ve done nothing wrong. Defence costs are generally paid on top of the claim itself, within the policy’s terms.

Need more than liability?

Property, theft, interruption & more

Switch on the other sections of the business pack in the same form, and it’s one policy.

See business insurance

Test yourself · 4 minutes

What it isn’t for

The claims it hands on.

Public liability wordings are written around injury and damage to other people. These sit with other policies, or with none, and knowing which saves a phone call after the fact.

Take the PI vs public liability quiz Read PI vs public liability

Your own employeesWorkers compensation, held under state law
A client’s financial loss from your adviceProfessional indemnity
Hacked systems and lost dataCyber insurance
Your own premises, tools and stockThe property sections of the business pack

Who it’s for

If people come to you, or you go to them.

You pick your business from the full list of Australian industry codes. Each insurer decides which it writes, and the quote says so plainly when one won’t.

Tradies
Cafés & restaurants
Retail shops
Cleaners
Consultants
Personal trainers
Market stalls
and plenty more

How it works

Three steps. One sitting.

Tell Gary what you do

Your business, where you work and your turnover. Leave the other sections switched off if liability is all you need.

The insurers price it

Each one rates the same answers, and every quote names its insurer and links its PDS.

A person places it

You pick and pay; a broker places the policy and your certificate of currency arrives by email.

Before you start

What the form asks.

Intake sheeta few minutes

What you do: pick it from the list, and we look your ABN up
Where: your premises, and whether you work on site
The numbers: turnover and staff, roughly
The limit: how much cover, often set by a lease or contract
The history: claims in the last five years, plainly

Liability only? Leave the other sections switched off.

Worth knowing

The bits people wish they’d read.

What is public liability insurance?

Insurance for the compensation you become legally liable to pay when someone outside your business is injured, or their property is damaged, in connection with your business. It generally also pays the legal costs of defending a claim like that.

Can I buy public liability on its own?

Yes. Public liability is the standard section of the business pack, and every other section is one you switch on. Leave them off and the quote is for liability alone. You can switch more on later.

How much cover do I need, $10 million or $20 million?

It depends on your business and your contracts. Landlords, councils, venues and head contractors often set a minimum in the lease or contract, commonly $10 million or $20 million. The form offers limits from $5 million to $20 million, depending on the insurer.

Does public liability cover my employees?

No. Injury to your own staff is workers compensation, which employers must hold under state and territory law, and public liability wordings exclude it.

Does it cover mistakes in my advice?

Generally not. Public liability wordings exclude professional advice or service. A claim that your advice or design cost a client money is what professional indemnity is for.

What is a certificate of currency?

A one-page document from the insurer confirming the policy is in force, its limit and its dates. Landlords and head contractors usually ask for one before you start. Your broker sends it with your policy documents.

Is this advice?

Everything here is general information only. It doesn’t consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. We explain how public liability works and show what businesses like yours commonly choose; read the PDS and decide what fits.

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