A Queensland electrical contractor policy must include public and products liability, testing-and-certification liability, faulty-design and incorrect-advice liability even where no specific fee was charged, and goods in the licence holder’s care, custody or control. WorkSafe Queensland’s guidance, with a publication or update date of 5 October 2021, requires a limit of indemnity of at least $5,000,000 and consumer protection insurance of at least $50,000 (figures checked 1 October 2026). The $5,000,000 is the policy’s required limit of indemnity, not a separate amount for each inclusion.
What are the mandatory policy sections?
Section 165 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2026—the ES Regulation—sets the insurance requirements described in the WorkSafe Queensland guidance.
| Policy element | Mandatory requirement |
|---|---|
| Policyholder name | Issued in the legal name of the business applying for the electrical contractor licence. |
| Liability coverage | Public and products liability. |
| Testing and certification | Liability arising from testing and certification of work in accordance with the ES Regulation. |
| Faulty design | Injury or damage arising from faulty design work performed by the licence holder, including work for which no specific fee was charged. |
| Incorrect advice | Injury or damage arising from incorrect advice, including advice for which no specific fee was charged. |
| Goods | Goods in the licence holder’s care, custody or control. |
| Consumer protection insurance | At least $50,000. |
| Limit of indemnity | At least $5,000,000 for the policy. |
The two monetary requirements serve different purposes: $5,000,000 is the stated policy limit of indemnity, while $50,000 is the minimum stated for consumer protection insurance. The guidance does not allocate a separate $5,000,000 amount to testing and certification, faulty design, incorrect advice or goods in care, custody or control.
Do design work and advice have to be charged?
No specific fee is required for either mandatory inclusion. The faulty-design requirement extends to design work performed without a specific fee, and the incorrect-advice requirement does the same.
That wording is important when checking the policy’s PDS: a general reference to public liability may not, by itself, demonstrate that both extensions are present. Ask the insurer to confirm that the policy meets the mandatory requirements in section 165.
How can an applicant confirm the policy complies?
WorkSafe Queensland’s guidance sets out a practical sequence:
- Check that the policy is issued in the applying business’s legal name.
- Compare the PDS with each mandatory coverage requirement.
- Ask the insurer to confirm that the policy meets the mandatory requirements.
- Provide the insurance-policy details with the licence application or renewal.
- Make the required declaration that the insurer has confirmed compliance.
- Consult the insurer or broker if anything remains unclear.
A copy of the insurance policy does not have to be provided with the application.
What happens if the Electrical Safety Office conducts an audit?
The Electrical Safety Office conducts periodic audits to check that contractors hold appropriate insurance. If an audit occurs, the licence holder must provide either:
- a copy of the insurance policy; or
- written confirmation from the insurer.
Not attaching a policy copy to the original application therefore does not remove the need to be able to evidence the policy later.
Is insurance the same as holding an electrical contractor licence?
No. An electrical contractor licence must be held to perform electrical work for others as a sole trader, partnership or company, and holding a compliant policy is a separate licensing requirement.
The licence is issued for one year. The licence holder remains responsible for maintaining the eligibility requirements throughout that time, including the requirement to hold insurance meeting section 165 of the ES Regulation.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Check the current WorkSafe Queensland regulator page and the policy’s PDS, and confirm the wording with the insurer or broker before applying or renewing.
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FAQ
Is a $5,000,000 indemnity limit enough on its own?
No. The policy must also meet the required coverage sections, be issued in the applying business’s legal name and include consumer protection insurance of at least $50,000. The amount alone does not demonstrate that every mandatory inclusion is present.
Must faulty design work or incorrect advice be charged?
No. The mandatory wording applies even where the licence holder did not charge a specific fee for the design work or advice.
Does goods in care, custody or control have a separate $5,000,000 limit?
The guidance identifies $5,000,000 as the policy’s required limit of indemnity. It does not state that amount separately for the goods-in-care, custody or control inclusion.
Do I need to provide the policy copy when I apply?
No. A policy copy is not required with the application. During an audit, you must provide a copy or written confirmation from the insurer.
Who must confirm that the insurance meets the mandatory requirements?
The applicant must confirm the position with the insurer. When applying or renewing, the applicant must also declare that this confirmation has been obtained.
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