The NSW Emergency Services Levy

The NSW Emergency Services Levy explained

To ensure you're informed when it comes to changes that impact your insurance, here is some helpful information on the NSW Emergency Services Levy (ESL).

What is the ESL?

The ESL is a regular contribution towards emergency service agencies in NSW. The ESL is added to your insurance payments each year. Once collected, your ESL contribution then goes toward funding emergency services in NSW, where it helps to keep our community safe during times of urgent need.

Changes to ESL are on hold

On 15 December 2015 the NSW Government announced that ESL contributions would be replaced by a new Fire and Emergency Services Levy (FESL). It was announced that the new FESL would be collected with council rates, instead of insurance, from 1 July 2017.

However, on 30 May 2017, the NSW Government announced it is delaying these changes.

Prior to the delay, we progressively removed the ESL from policies due between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2017. With the changes now on hold, we’ve reintroduced ESL on insurance policies.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve reintroduced ESL on insurance policies as a result of the delay. Your ESL contribution will continue through your insurance policy until the NSW Government advises us otherwise.

The NSW Government identified that some businesses were unfairly impacted by the new FESL, so the changes have been delayed.

Nothing. Your next policy renewal invitation will automatically include the ESL. Just follow any payment instructions provided with your renewal policy. Any ESL collected with your policy will be used to fund NSW emergency services and your policy documentation will show your contribution. Your ESL contribution will continue through your insurance policy until the NSW Government advises us otherwise and we’ll keep you updated as we find out more.

Prior to the NSW Government’s announcement to delay the changes, we progressively removed ESL from policies due between 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017. As we reintroduce ESL on insurance policies, some customers may see an increase in their ESL contribution from last year. All ESL charges relate directly to the funding of NSW emergency services.

If your policy doesn’t have an amount charged for ESL, it means we removed it in preparation for the FESL reform. You won’t be asked to pay ESL again (for the current term of your policy) unless you make changes to your policy.

No. With the delay in changes, councils won’t be charging any ESL as it'll be collected on insurance policies.

ESL is collected each financial year as part of home, landlord and motor insurance payments.

The ESL Insurance Monitor was established in June 2016 as an independent body. One of its functions is to monitor the prices for ESL applicable products. Professor Allan Fels AO and Professor David Cousins AM have been appointed by the NSW Government as the ESL Insurance Monitor and Deputy Monitor, respectively. You can visit the ESL Insurance Monitor website for more information.

Product related

Standard underwriting criteria apply. Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (Coles) is an authorised representative of the issuer, Insurance Australia Limited (ABN 11 000 016 722 AFSL 227681) and Guild Insurance Limited (ABN 55 004 538 863, AFSL 233791) and receives a commission for each policy sold and renewed. Any advice provided is of a general nature only and does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any advice you should consider its appropriateness. You should read the Product Disclosure Statement before deciding whether to acquire an insurance policy.

+Policy limitations, exclusions and conditions apply. For full terms and conditions, see the Product Disclosure Statement.