Environmental insurance: clean up costs

The cost of cleaning up environmental pollution is regarded in England as falling outside standard liability policies. Partly for that reason, the market has developed Environmental Impact Liability cover which is designed specifically to pick up such liability. A recent decision from Queensland Court of Appeal, Hamcor Pty Ltd v The State of Queensland [2013] QCA 262, confirms that a general public liability policy appropriately worded will not normally extend to clean-up costs.

Hamcor : the facts