The Tasmanian Government is taking the plight of community groups and their struggle to get public liability insurance into its own hands.

All community groups, not-for-profit organisations and sporting groups using Education Department facilities that aren’t already insured will now be protected by third party insurance under a two-year trial by the state government.

Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett says it “makes no sense” to have government facilities locked up in the evenings or on weekends when there are community groups that want to use them.

“Removing the barrier of public liability insurance will make that easier,” he said.

The insurance was obtained through Marsh, the administrative agents of the Tasmanian Government’s Risk Management Fund