[David Grima]

Evening all,
I have been involved in some nice old fashioned email tennis with my best mate Kevin at NSW Treasury about the BS that they have been spreading about the FESL (including the segment on channel 7 that Tracey gave us the link to in an earlier post).
As usual Kevin won’t give me a straight answer.
During one rally I asked Kevin who Council should refer ratepayers to that were ringing to complain about the amount of the FESL that they have been charged, and his reply was:-
“While we would expect that councils should deal with queries that relate to land classification, if rate payers are not happy with the policy and design per se, they should call the NSW Government hotline on 1300 78 78 72.”
I can supply copies of his advice if you like but you can be sure that this Council (Bayside) will be referring each and every complaint to the hotline.
I think our match may go the full 5 sets so i will let you know if I get anything else useful out of my mate Kev.
C’Mon
Lleyton

For my own interest, has ANYONE found, spoken to or identified a ratepayer (except for a pensioner) who will be better off under this new scheme. Kev has told me that “savings will be less than expected if the property is currently under insured” but I don’t see the correlation between how the existing FESL is based on the building amount insured and the new FESL is to be based on the value of the land.

I also gave Ken this question and he did not respond as yet. I may take it up with the VG.
Q: All Councils were issued with a 2016 valuation so the FESL would be equitable. I believe that when valuing a Council, the VG uses base properties to determine the % increase that is then applied to other like properties. The theory is that there is a consistency to the valuations in that Council. I suggested to Kev that in order for the 2016 valuation to be equitable then base properties should be chosen across different Councils and the % increase applied the same way (not sure if I explained that properly). Am I off the mark with this?

[Andrew Butcher]

Hi Dave
You are absolutely correct, all enquiries regarding the FESL as a reform should be referred to Treasury on 1300 78 78 72 or by email by visiting fesl.nsw.gov.au. All insurance ESL versus FESL costs need to be referred to the insurance monitor by phone 1300 60 77 23 or visiting eslinsurancemonitor@nsw.gov.au
Councils role is primarily to classify land, collect the FESL and remit to OSR. There is a work group that is directing its attention to how councils will be reimbursed for the additional work placed on the sector in performing these tasks.
Personally for my moderate home located in the sticks is up for home and contents (combined) in June. In 2015-16 I paid $265, for this year 2016-17 the renewal is $112, for 2017-18 the amount will be $187.
Not sure about your concept for valuations but in my view an even fairer system would be using capital values.
Hope this is of some help.
Regards,
Andrew

[Darryl Telfer]

Agree with Andrew as to what Council’s role is, classify, levy collect and report. Our approach is that we will try to assist our customers (they ARE our customers after all) to understand what the State levy is, how it will impact them and where they can get to get more information i.e. the FESL Hotline or the Insurance Monitor.
We are not suggesting the levy is fairer (or less fair) either – its not our role to determine what is fair here. Fairness is a matter of opinion and quite an emotive term – best to stay out of that space.
FWIW I am better off by about $100 per year on household insurance – not sure if my MV insurance is impacted / was subject to ESL.

[Emma Murphy]

In terms of being better of worse off.

Here is in Inverell, the residents are handling it pretty well, I am personally worse off, 15-16 paid about $98 in ESL, in 16-17 (renewed in April), paid $60ish, under FESL I will pay about $115. However a colleague who has just bought her first home in April 17, paid $215 ESL, and will pay $120ish under FESL. Our insured amount is very similar. Approx 300K

I can see our Farmers may not be better off, as many of them may only insure their house and sheds, which would not be close to their ULV. Our highest valued farmland property in the Shire will pay $4,101.00 in FESL

[Robert Hay]

Hi Everyone

From todays SMH

NSW insurance companies will be forced to show the price a customer paid for the previous year’s property insurance on renewal notices from July 1 under reforms to how fire and emergency services are funded.

Read the article http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/insurers-forced-to-display-savings-under-new-fire-levy-rules-20170515-gw5bvp.html

[Author]

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