This Flat Chat article in the Domain explains changes in the way the so-called Fire and Emergency Services Levy (FESL) is raised.
From 1 July 2017, the annual fire services levy will be collected via council rates rather than via buildings insurance. This will ensure the FESL will be spread more evenly across a broader slice of the populace.
“The winners will be renters who will no longer have to pay the levy on their insurance and won’t have to pay the increased rates (because that goes to the landlord). And those of us who own our homes and are insured to our eyeballs will also benefit from a lower levy on our rates than we pay on our insurance.
The losers will be the great uninsured home owners as well as landlords who will take at least one rent rise cycle before they can shift the load to their tenants.”