Reform of the New South Wales Emergency Services Levy

9 May 2016

Every year Insurers insuring property in New South Wales are required to contribute to the annual budget of the New South Wales fire and emergency services. This money is used by the Government to fund vital emergency services.

In December 2015, the NSW Government announced that the collection from Insurers – passed onto you as a Fire Services Levy (FSL) in your insurance premium – will change to a property based tax collected directly from owners through their council rates. This change will result in a much fairer system where most people who might need to use emergency services help fund them, instead of insurance customers subsidising those who don't insure their homes or premises.

This change is expected to come into effect on 1 July 2017, and as a result, the premium for insurance policies with a commencement date or renewal date on or after 1 July 2017 will NOT include any FSL (also known as ESL). From 1 July 2017 FSL/ESL will be known as Fire and Emergency Services Levy (FESL) and will be charged on council rates.

FSL/ESL on premiums paid by instalments

The funds collected from FSL charges on policies commencing during the 2016/17 financial year (1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017) are used to meet our emergency services funding obligations for that period. The amount of FSL is unaffected by whether your premium is paid in full at the time of inception or through instalments (even if instalments are due after 30 June 2017).

Therefore, if you pay by instalments for a policy taken out in the 2016/17 financial year, we will continue to collect FSL post 1 July on the remaining instalments due for that policy, and those amounts will be paid to the NSW Government.

Please note, ESL is often referred to as FSL (Fire Services Levy).

If you have any questions relating to your home insurance products, please visit www.apia.com.au/home-insurance or call 13 50 50.

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Australian Pensioners Insurance Agency Pty Ltd (Apia) ABN 14 099 650 996 AR 239591 is an authorised representative of AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 AFSL 230859 (AAI), the issuer of Home, Landlord, Car, Motorcycle, Caravan, Motorhome, Boat, Travel, Compulsory Third Party Personal Injury (CTP) Insurance and Motor Accident Injuries Insurance (MAI Insurance). Registered Office: Level 23, 80 Ann Street, Brisbane QLD 4000.

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Health Insurance
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Life Products
Any advice on this page in connection with the Life products is general in nature and is provided by Platform Ventures Pty Ltd ABN 35 626 745 177 AFS Representative Number 001266101 (PV). PV is part of the Suncorp Group and an authorised representative of TAL Direct Pty Limited ABN 39 084 666 017, AFSL 243260 (TAL Direct).

Funeral Insurance

Apia Funeral Insurance is issued by TAL Life Limited ABN 70 050 109 450 AFSL 237848 (TAL Life) which is part of the TAL Dai-ichi Life Australia Pty Limited ABN 97 150 070 483 group of companies (TAL). TAL is not part of the Suncorp Group. TAL Life uses the Apia brand under licence from the Suncorp Group. The different entities of TAL and the Suncorp Group of companies are not responsible for, or liable in respect of, products and services provided by the other.

Any advice on this page in connection with the Life products is general in nature and is provided by Platform Ventures Pty Ltd ABN 35 626 745 177 AFS Representative Number 001266101 (PV). PV is part of the Suncorp Group and an authorised representative of TAL Direct Pty Limited ABN 39 084 666 017 AFSL 243260 (TAL Direct). General advice does not take into account your individual needs, objectives or financial situation. Before you decide to buy or to continue to hold a Life Product you must read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. The Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product is also available.

TAL Life is proud to have adopted the Life Insurance Code of Practice (Code). The Code has been developed voluntarily by the Life Insurance industry to promote high standards of service to consumers, provide a benchmark of consistency within the industry, and establish a framework for professional behaviour and responsibilities.

This content is current for Home and Contents, Home and Contents Extra, Village Style Residence, Apartment Style Residence, Assisted Living Residence, Landlord, Car Advantage, Motorcycle, Caravan, Motorhome and Boat Insurance policies commenced or renewed on or after 23 March 2021.