Strata and consumer lobby groups have made a fresh push for insurance tax reform after the Queensland government projected revenue from the charges will rise in the next few years.

The state’s 2025-26 budget estimates insurance taxes will bring in $1.78 billion this financial year, up from $1.66 billion in 2024-25. Forward estimates put the figure at $1.9 billion in 2026-27; $2.01 billion in 2027-28; and $2.1 billion in 2028-29.

Strata Community Association Queensland GM Laura Bos says the government must prioritise the removal of stamp duty on insurance premiums, particularly for strata properties, where cover is a legal requirement.

“There is no choice here,” she said. “This is not a luxury or an add-on … Stamp duty on strata insurance is effectively a tax on compliance. Removing it would provide immediate, tangible relief to hundreds of thousands of Queenslanders who own or live in strata.”

She also urges the government to support disaster mitigation measures for strata homeowners, who face different challenges from people with free-standing properties.

“In standalone homes, owners can adjust their level of cover. But in strata, the scheme must insure to full replacement value – there is no ability to reduce coverage, even if owners are struggling to afford it. It’s time to stop penalising people for doing the right thing.

“Strata communities want to invest in resilience, but shared governance can make accessing funding and taking action harder.”

Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby chair Tyrone Shandiman says he has written to Treasurer David Janetzki asking him to double the state’s investment in disaster resilience by redirecting stamp duty on the GST component of insurance premiums.

“Redirecting that revenue to fund risk reduction would send a powerful signal that the government is serious about cost-of-living relief and disaster resilience,” he said.

“This is a chance to reform how we use stamp duty and invest where it matters most.”