Construction Insurance for Brisbane Builders, Tradies, and Contractors

No. Workers compensation covers your employees for work-related injuries and illnesses. It does not cover you as the business owner, director, or self-employed tradie. If you are injured on a job site or become seriously ill and cannot work, there is no workers compensation claim available to you — regardless of how seriously you are injured or how long you are off work.

This is one of the most significant and most overlooked insurance gaps for Brisbane construction business owners. The two main options are income protection insurance, which replaces up to 70% of your income during a longer recovery period and is generally tax-deductible, and personal accident insurance, which pays a weekly benefit faster and with shorter waiting periods. Many Brisbane builders and tradies hold both. A broker assesses your situation and recommends the right combination for your income level and financial obligations.

Contract works insurance is important everywhere, but Queensland's elevated exposure to severe storm, hail, and flooding events makes it particularly critical for Brisbane builders and contractors. South East Queensland regularly experiences severe hailstorms during summer that can cause significant damage to partially built structures, roofing under construction, and building materials stored on site.

Two things to check on your contract works policy if you are building in Queensland. First, the storm and weather event sub-limits — some policies apply lower limits for storm and flood damage in certain Queensland postcodes. Second, the flood definition — there is an important distinction between storm-surge flooding and rainwater flooding in policy wording, and both need to be covered for Brisbane projects near waterways or in low-lying areas. A broker reviews these conditions for your specific project locations before recommending a policy.

Both covers replace your income if you cannot work due to injury or illness, but they work differently and suit different needs.

Personal accident insurance typically has shorter waiting periods — sometimes as little as one day — is simpler to claim on, and pays a weekly benefit of up to 85% of your income. It is suited to sole operator tradies and directors who need income replacement quickly if they are injured. Premiums are generally not tax-deductible.

Income protection insurance covers a broader range of conditions, offers benefit periods of up to age 65, and premiums are generally tax-deductible when held outside superannuation. The own occupation definition is particularly valuable for tradies — it pays if you cannot perform your specific trade, not just any work at all. An electrician with a hand tremor or a roofer with a significant knee injury would be covered under own occupation even if they could theoretically do administrative work. Many Brisbane construction business owners hold both covers working together — personal accident as the immediate short-term safety net and income protection as the long-term serious illness cover.

Most public liability and contract works policies arranged through a broker cover you Australia-wide as standard, so taking on a project in regional Queensland, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, or interstate is covered without needing a separate policy.

Confirm with your broker if you take on projects in cyclone-prone regions of Queensland — Far North Queensland, North Queensland, and coastal areas above the Tropic of Capricorn have elevated cyclone risk and some contract works policies apply specific conditions or sub-limits for cyclone damage in these areas. A broker confirms the geographic scope of your policy and any regional conditions before you accept a project outside your usual Brisbane and South East Queensland market.

As a subcontractor on a Brisbane project, the minimum insurance you will almost always need before site access is granted is current public liability insurance at the limit specified in your subcontract agreement — typically $10M or $20M depending on the principal contractor's requirements. Most Brisbane head contractors require your certificate of currency before your first day on site.

Do not assume the principal contractor's policy covers you. Their contract works policy covers the project itself but may not extend to your specific scope of work as a subcontractor. Their public liability covers their own liability, not yours. As a self-employed subcontractor you also have no workers compensation protection for your own injuries — personal accident insurance fills this gap. Send us your subcontract agreement and we will confirm what is required and issue the correct documentation before your start date.

Construction insurance costs in Brisbane vary based on your trade, annual turnover, the number of employees, project values, and the specific covers required. As a general guide for Brisbane and South East Queensland:

Public liability at $10M for a sole operator tradie typically starts from $600 to $1,500 per year. Higher-risk trades such as roofing, demolition, and scaffolding attract higher premiums. Contract works cover is typically priced as a percentage of the contract value, commonly 0.15% to 0.35% depending on project type, build duration, and Queensland weather exposure. Personal accident for a Brisbane tradie typically starts from $500 to $1,500 per year depending on age, income, and the weekly benefit selected. Income protection typically costs $800 to $2,500 per year depending on age, income level, waiting period, and benefit period.

The most accurate way to understand your cost is to have a Brisbane broker compare across specialist construction insurers for your specific trade profile. Contact us for a same-day indicative quote. See our construction insurance cost guide for more detail on what drives your premium.