The ACT government has rejected calls for a comparator website and other recommendations from an inquiry into insurance costs and availability.

But it has agreed in principle to explore a pool for community groups.

The government “recognises the benefit community organisations provide to the territory and agrees to investigate and consider insurance pooling models that would realise premium cost reductions for all participants when using government-owned facilities”.

In submissions to the inquiry, community groups said they struggle to afford public liability cover, which is mandatory for using government venues and facilities.

“For some community organisations, the $20 million public liability insurance requirement can prove to be too onerous for them to conduct their activities at government facilities,” said the inquiry report, released in September with 21 recommendations.

Public liability premiums have increased by an average of 40% since 2015, the Insurance Council of Australia said in its submission.

The territory government says it has also agreed in principle to “investigate and consider insurance pooling models that would realise premium cost reductions in relation to workers’ compensation insurance premiums” for community organisations.

“This work would need to consider possible and unintended impacts on the wider workers’ compensation market in the ACT, noting its small size.”