It was a pleasure dealing with Debbie for my public liability insurance. Prompt service specific to my individual requirements. I highly recommend CIB.
Contractor public liability set up for your trade and the jobs you take on.
Quick answerWhat does contractor public liability cover?Contractor public liability covers your legal liability when your work injures someone or damages someone else's property, including the cost of defending the claim. The head contracts we see now almost always ask for at least $20 million cover. Whether a claim is paid often comes down to the limits your policy sets on the work you do.
Need a certificate of currency to get on site or to get paid? We set it up. We also check that the policy behind it fits the job.
Google reviews, word for word
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We had excellent service in obtaining insurance on a newly purchased commercial property. Clayton Rowlings explained everything so clearly and very patient with many questions regarding different options. Highly recommended! Thanks Clayton.
Tracey helped me sort out professional indemnity and public liability insurance for my new business - she was super helpful throughout the process helping me navigate for the first time.
Deja Coffey is our current Insurance broker for our company. Deja has Absolutely outstanding customer service and I highly recommend going with her for all your insurance needs.
Terrific experience with Gina. I had a difficult policy which other brokers couldn't find a solution for. Gina had an option for me within a few hours. I would highly recommend.
Thank you so much Cyndie for your help/advice/service. You made the whole process so easy. Thank you again. Jason Armstrong
Alison was a life-saver for us, staying after hours to make sure that we could get the building insurance coverage we urgently needed for a property purchase.
Debbie was always happy to help with my questions and very prompt with her service.
Hi I can highly recommend Aimee Spencer for all your insurance needs she has done a fantastic effort on keeping my insurance policy once again Many Thanks for all your work
Saskia Van Oostveen was efficient, professional, accurate, helpful and friendly throughout the entire process. Highly recommend!
A great experience with Tori, attaining some tricky commercial insurance, she was very professional in catering to your needs, whilst also having a quick turn around.
Jade was wonderful, finding me insurance coverage for a commercial property. Greatly appreciated her excellent service.
I contacted Tracey E from Consolidated Insurance Brokers for some commercial property quotes. Tracey was super helpful helpful, friendly and provided great advice. Highly recommend for all your insurance needs!
Thanks for your assistance Dylan with car insurance inquiry you have been really helpful and professional.
Shona was always available and answered all my queriers. A1 service and happy to recommend.
I contacted Renay after she was recommended by a family friend, for home and contents insurance. She was prompt and helpful and had me all sorted in a couple of days. Highly recommend!
I needed fast transit insurance this week and Daniel Roussounis was outstanding in his immediate response and getting this organized for me. Can't recommend Daniel and Consolidated Insurance Brokers highly enough!
Second year organising insurance with Jim K., did not have any issues and a smooth transition. I recommend
May Lewong at the Emerald office was amazing. Easy to deal with and was quick and efficient.
Reena was absolutely fantastic during the entire process helping me set you our new home and contents insurance. Would definitely recommend to anyone.
Natasha as always, gives us professional, exceptional service and would recommend her to any business :-)
Read every review, word for word as it was written on Google
Written by William Paull, QPIB
Co-Founder & Account Director · Read William’s full profile
The details you could miss
Tell us your trade and what each job involves. We compare cover and premiums across policies, check the insurance requirements in your contract, and explain the restrictions before you decide.
Your trade
Limits on height, depth and hot work are printed on your schedule. They are not in the policy booklet. We match each one against the work you actually do when you first buy, whenever you change your activities, and at every renewal.
Your contract
Send us the contract's insurance requirements before you sign. We will tell you whether your policy meets them.
Your subbies
If you pay subcontractors, tell us. We'll make sure your policy does not exclude injury to a subbie on your job.
Why it matters
A broker schedule can spell out where your cover stops. A direct policy can leave it vague. Vague is easier to decline at claim time.
Know before you buy
What it covers
Liability pays for something that happens while the policy is in force. It never pays for something that went wrong before the policy started. No cover yet? Now is the time.
What we need to quote
We need your trade and any second trade you do. We also need your turnover, your claims history, what you pay subcontractors and the limit your contracts ask for.
Your certificate of currency
It is proof your policy is in force and paid. We can only issue one once the premium is paid in full. That is why a builder asks for it. It shows only the basics of your cover, not your private information.
What insurers print for your trade
Pick your trade. These are terms printed on real trade public liability schedules we hold. We read them in October 2026 and took out the client's and the insurer's names.
Height
No cover building, erecting or demolishing over 10 m, or working externally at 10 m or more; or no cover working externally above 10 m or 3 storeys, whichever is lower
Depth and digging
No excavation over 10 m; or damage to buried services covered only if Dial Before You Dig plans were obtained first
Hot work
Covered only in strict compliance with the Australian Standard for welding fire precautions; or with AS 1674
Subcontractors
Subcontractors extension, with the schedule's contractor excess; or a $10,000 excess for injury to anyone engaged to work for you who is not your employee
Other terms
Queensland electrician consumer protection endorsement; a principal noted as an interested party; no work on high voltage powerlines or substations
Carpenter
Height
No cover working externally above 10 m or 3 storeys, whichever is lower; or no demolition over 10 m
Hot work
Covered only in strict compliance with the relevant laws, codes and Standards Australia standards
Other terms
Rip and tear exclusion (removing defective concrete) and silica exclusion; a $500 property damage excess
Cleaner
Height
No cover for anyone lowered by abseiling, ropes or a suspended platform
Hot work
Covered only in strict compliance with AS 1674.1 and AS 1674.2
Subcontractors
A $20,000 excess for injury to a subbie or labour hire, written on the basis that none are used
Other terms
Chemicals covered only if used as the manufacturer directs; a $2,500 excess for damage from carpet steam cleaning
Concreter
Height
No demolition over 10 m; a safety programme condition that no work is done above 10 m
Depth and digging
No excavation over 3.5 m
Other terms
Silica exclusion; your products must meet Australian standards
Plumber and gas fitter
Height
No cover building, erecting or demolishing anything over 10 m
Depth and digging
No excavation over 10 m
Hot work
Covered only in strict compliance with the Australian Standard for welding fire precautions
Subcontractors
Subcontractors extension, with a $2,500 contractors, subcontractors and labour hire excess
Other terms
Victorian plumbers consumer protection extension; damage to underground services covered only with written information from the owner
A missing line means that client's schedule did not carry a relevant condition. Another insurer or your own disclosures can add terms or conditions not shown here.
All 24 trades, grouped by the work you do, are in our guide: What does public liability exclude for your trade?
Short answers
As a subcontractor, does the head contractor's policy cover me?
Don't rely on it. Of the liability wordings Consolidated Insurance Brokers compared, at least one says: "We will not indemnify the subcontractor or agent." Some head contractors' policies extend to a subcontractor, but even then the cover is narrow. A claim against your business needs your own policy.
Does your policy cover hot work?
Only on its terms. Where hot work is a real exposure for your trade, the policy condition is noted on the schedule, and Consolidated Insurance Brokers matches that condition against the work you actually do. Hot work standards call for a fire watch after the works are done. Leaving before that window closes can see a claim declined.
What if you do two trades?
Your policy covers the occupation you declare, and Consolidated Insurance Brokers checks that occupation against the work you do. When a Queensland plumbing business we insure brought in an electrician, we updated the policy's occupation to include electrician so it carried the endorsement his licensing required. Someone buying online who simply ticks both trades could miss a step like that.
Should you name the principal as an insured on your policy?
If the head contract asks for the principal to be named as an insured, Consolidated Insurance Brokers does not recommend it. A named insured can have the right to ring the insurer and change your policy. Of the 17 liability wordings we compared, 11 already count a principal as insured for your work, usually only to the extent your contract requires. If needed, we can note them as an interested party to satisfy your contract.
If you use subcontractors, what does it cost you?
Injury to a subcontractor can carry its own excess, higher than the standard policy excess, so no exclusion does not mean no cost. If you pay subcontractors and declare it, Consolidated Insurance Brokers makes sure your policy does not exclude injury to a subbie on your job. Declare the real amount you pay subcontractors; what that changes if you claim is in our guide, Why does my public liability premium keep going up? See if a subcontractor is hurt on your job, can you be held liable?
A contract, a start date or an invoice waiting on a certificate?
Ring us.
Tell us what your business does. We'll help you understand your contractor public liability options. Call 07 3292 1111.