Fire risk for QLD, NSW and WA this spring: Is your home insured?

Australian landscape.

‘Above normal fire potential’ has been predicted for south-east Queensland, northern NSW and parts of northern WA this spring. 

Released just last week, the National Council for fire and emergency services’ Seasonal Bushfire Outlook report says anyone who lives or works in these areas should be vigilant, as increased grass and crop growth could mean a higher fire risk.

Which areas have a higher fire risk?

The report says grass and crop growth has been particularly high in New England, the Northern Tablelands and the Liverpool Ranges in NSW. In Queensland it is predicted that there will be a slight increase in grassland fires in the south east, the Burnett/Wide Bay areas, north Queensland and coastal areas between Gladstone and Mackay.

In Western Australia, the council says above average rainfall over the past 12 months could lead to increased fire risk in the Pilbara, Dampierland, Central Kimberley and Ord Victoria Plain bioregions.

The report also predicts ‘below normal fire potential’ for the ACT, parts of NSW and Victoria. This lower risk is a result of vegetation recovering, following the bushfire crisis in 2019 and 2020.

Does home insurance protect against bushfires?

Whether or not home insurance protects against bushfire damage will depend on the individual policy. While a number of policies do include fire cover as standard, the definition of what fire is can vary.

Following the bushfire crisis inquiry in 2020, we discussed the need for standardisation in insurance terms. This especially applies to fire. For this reason, we recommend thoroughly reading the product disclosure statement that accompanies your home insurance policy. What is covered with ‘fire cover’ should be laid out in this. If it is still not entirely clear to you, feel free to give the insurance company a ring and ask for further clarification.

Another thing to look out for is how much cover you actually have. You may be covered for bushfire damage, but if the amount that your property is insured for is less than it would cost to rebuild, you could still wind up heavily out of pocket. Read our guide to underinsurance to find out how you can avoid a scenario like this.

Finding a home insurance policy

Not sure where to start looking for a home insurance policy? Head to Mozo’s compare home and contents insurance page for a snapshot of policies available in Australia right now. For a full list of insurance plans Mozo compares click ‘see more home insurance.’ On this page you can see a snapshot of the main events each policy covers, plus whether underinsurance protection is available. 

Or if you’d rather stay on this page, have a scroll of the offers below.

Compare home insurance plans - rates updated daily

Search promoted home insurance below. Advertiser disclosure. Important information on terms, conditions and sub-limits.
  • Home & Contents Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments
    cost extra
    Calendar icon
    No
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old
    replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    Details
  • Home Cover - Buildings & Contents

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments
    cost extra
    Calendar icon
    Yes
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    Optional ExtraUp To 30% Of Buildings Sum Insured, Applied Automatically For Eligible Policies
    New for old
    replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    Details
  • Home & Contents Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments
    cost extra
    Calendar icon
    Yes
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old
    replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
  • Home & Contents Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments
    cost extra
    Calendar icon
    Yes
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    Optional ExtraUp To 30% Of Building Sum Insured
    New for old
    replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    Details
  • Home & Contents Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
      Optional Extra
    Monthly payments
    cost extra
    Calendar icon
    Yes
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    Optional ExtraUp To 25% Of Building Sum Insured
    New for old
    replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    Details

* Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.

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