Searches for 20 million public liability insurance cost usually want a price, and in Australia we found no official one. This guide shows what we could verify instead: where a $20 million limit is asked for, which insurers offer it, what an insurer says moves a premium and which wording questions change what you are buying. We do not quote prices or recommend a limit.
Quick answer
We found no official price for a $20 million limit, and we do not quote one. Council event pages, landlord documents and insurer tiers show where $20 million appears. Ask for quotes at each limit a contract names.
20 Million Public Liability Insurance Cost at a Glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Is there an official price? | We found none, and no regulator page we read states one |
| Where do councils ask for $20 million? | Boroondara, Geelong, Camden and Wollongong set it for events, and Yarra says it is typically required |
| Do landlord documents show it? | A NAB landlord document shows $20 million per accident |
| Do insurers offer it? | Allianz, NRMA, CGU and AAMI pages list $20 million as the highest tier they state |
| Is it the highest limit anywhere? | No. CGU says higher limits are available by phone, and NSW hunting licences carry up to $25 million |
| What does one insurer say about cost? | A lower level of cover may make a policy cheaper, per an AAMI article |
| Does the limit alone set the price? | No. The same article lists several other factors |
What We Could and Could Not Find on Cost
We found no government, regulator or ombudsman page that states a price for any public liability limit. Insurer pages we read state limits and not premiums, and the one we checked that discusses cost, an AAMI article from 22 March 2022, gives no figures. So any number you see in an article about the cost of a $20 million limit comes from somewhere we have not verified.
The so what: the only reliable price is a quote for your business at the limit you need. Our cost guide owns the full explanation of what moves a premium, and our quotes guide explains what to prepare.
Where $20 Million Appears
The figure comes up in several settings. Each is an example we opened, not a complete list, and most pages are undated, so ask the body concerned for current wording.
| Setting | What the page says | Date on page |
|---|---|---|
| Boroondara council events | Organisers need a minimum of $20 million, and contractors and stallholders must provide a certificate with the same minimum | Published 19 February 2026, modified 27 August 2026 |
| Camden council events | Not less than $20,000,000 for any one occurrence | Undated |
| Geelong council events | Cover to the amount of $20 million, in the organiser's name | Undated |
| NAB landlord document | Up to $20 million for any one accident | Prepared 1 October 2024 |
| Terri Scheer brochure | A limit of indemnity of $20,000,000 | Marked 10 July 2024 |
| Marsh single-event product | $20 million for public and product liability, with a $500 excess | Undated |
Councils and landlord documents are the places we found the figure most often, although we did not survey the whole market. Our short-term guide covers event requirements in full, and our landlord guide covers the property documents.
What an Insurer Says Moves the Premium
AAMI is a commercial source, and its 2022 articles are insurer views, not rules. The 22 March 2022 article lists these factors:
- Business type
- Level of cover
- Inclusions and exclusions
- Activities such as working at height
- Business size
- Offsite work
- Previous claims
A separate article from 12 August 2022 says there is no set maximum limit, but that for most standard policies the maximum will likely be $20 million. It adds that doubling the limit to $10 million raises the premium by less than double. The article gives no premium figures, and we cannot say the same holds for a move to $20 million.
So the limit is one factor among several. Two businesses asking for the same limit can receive very different quotes, because the trade, the work and the claims history differ. That is why a price quoted in an article for one business tells you little about another, and why we state none. Our 10 million guide sets out the limits each insurer page shows.
Reading the Wording Behind the Number
A $20 million figure can mean different things depending on the clause, and the council pages show how much detail they can carry. Camden asks for cover for any one occurrence, and the NAB document applies its limit per accident. Geelong says the certificate must state the level of cover, period of cover and any exclusion clauses. So the number alone does not tell you what the policy will pay.
Picture an organiser comparing two quotes that both show the same limit. One applies the limit per occurrence and the other across the policy period, and one pays defence costs in addition to the limit. Those details can matter more than a small gap in the quote. Ask each insurer, and ask the council which wording it accepts.
Questions to Ask Before You Compare Quotes
- What limit and wording does the council, client or landlord require?
- Does the limit apply per occurrence, per accident or per period?
- Are defence costs inside the limit or in addition to it?
- What is the excess, and which exclusions touch my work?
- Does the certificate name the same entity as the contract?
We do not compare live prices. Our compare guide gives a checklist for reading quotes like for like.
Where to Go Next on Cairn Cover
The one thing to remember: the 20 million public liability insurance cost depends on your business and the wording, and no official price exists to anchor it. Cairn Cover explains how cover works, links each source on the words it supports and does not sell insurance or give personal advice. Read the national guide, then the cost guide and our Queensland guide for a state example.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does $20 million public liability insurance cost? We found no official price and we do not quote one. An AAMI article says business type, level of cover, exclusions, activities, size, offsite work and previous claims can all move a premium. A quote for your business is the only way to see a figure.
Why do councils ask for $20 million? The pages we read do not explain why. Boroondara, Geelong, Camden and Wollongong set $20 million for events, and Yarra says it is typically required. Each council sets its own terms, so ask yours.
Is $20 million the highest limit available? No. The CGU page says higher limits are available by phone, and NSW hunting licences carry a public liability component of up to $25 million. Availability depends on the insurer and the work.
Does a $20 million limit cost twice as much as $10 million? We found no figures to say. An AAMI article from 2022 says doubling the limit to $10 million raises the premium by less than double, and we cannot extend that to $20 million.
Do landlord policies include $20 million? The two documents we read, from NAB and Terri Scheer, show a $20 million limit. Your own policy may differ, so read its wording.
How does Cairn Cover help? We explain what councils, insurers and licensing bodies say, link each source on the words it supports and point to related guides. We do not sell insurance or give personal advice.