The NSW Government has scheduled face-to-face meetings with representatives from the insurance sector this week to discuss ways to reform the state’s Emergency Services Levy (ESL) funding arrangements.

First round meetings took place today between Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and stakeholders from the property and retail industries.

The meetings are part of the government’s consultation with key stakeholders after NSW Premier Chris Minns announced last month plans to replace the insurance-funded ESL scheme with a property-based model.

After the meetings, the government expects to release early next year a public consultation paper seeking views from industry stakeholders and the broader community on how best to reform emergency services funding.

“Today’s meeting was the first productive step in hearing from key stakeholders on ways to best reform the ESL,” Mr Mookhey said.

“The ESL adds to the cost of insurance at a time when too many NSW households are already uninsured.

“The costs of natural disasters are only expected to rise with climate change. We must seize the opportunity now to find a more sustainable way to fund our fire and emergency services and ease the pressure on insured households and businesses.”

NSW is the last mainland state in the country to rely on a levy on insurance to fund emergency services.

ESL accounts for about 18% of the cost of insurance for households in NSW and about 30% for businesses, making affordability issues particularly acute in a state that has experienced several severe floods in recent years.