Tank Insurance
Call 02 9000 1155
Australian business directors and managers in a boardroom meeting discussing management liability and governance responsibilities

Management Liability Insurance

Combined D&O, EPL, and statutory liability cover for Australian businesses. We compare 15+ insurers to protect directors, officers, and companies from personal liability claims, employment disputes, and regulatory investigations.

$500-$6.5K

Premium Range

15+

Insurers Compared

Claims

Handling Experience

Recognition

Industry Awards

WHY TANK INSURANCE

Why businesses choose us for Management Liability

Most brokers treat Management Liability as a checkbox product. We don't. We've placed 17+ ML and D&O policies across financial services, banking, healthcare, education, legal, and manufacturing sectors - and we've managed active claims on ML policies. That hands-on experience means we know what to look for in a policy and what to push back on.

Insurance broker consulting with Australian business directors about management liability coverage and D&O protection

01

17+ ML & D&O Placements

We've placed Management Liability and Directors & Officers cover for financial services firms, banks, healthcare companies, education providers, law firms, and manufacturers. We know the market and which insurers are competitive for your industry.

02

Active Claims Experience

We don't just place policies - we manage ML claims. When a claim hits, we handle the insurer, the process, and the pressure so you can focus on running your business.

03

Premiums From $500

Management Liability doesn't have to be expensive. We've placed policies from $500 for smaller firms through to $6,500 for complex multi-cover packages. We compare quotes across 15+ insurers to find the right fit.

04

Multi-Cover Packaging

Many clients need ML alongside PI, Public Liability, or Cyber cover. We regularly bundle D&O with other covers - simplifying administration and often reducing total premium.

POLICY SCOPE

What does Management Liability insurance actually cover?

Management Liability is a packaged policy that protects business owners, directors, and the company itself from claims arising from management decisions, employment practices, and regulatory obligations. It combines several covers into one policy.

Directors and officers reviewing a management liability insurance policy during a corporate strategy session
Directors and officers reviewing a management liability insurance policy during a corporate strategy session

Usually Covered

✓ Directors & Officers liability - personal liability protection for directors and officers when management decisions result in financial loss to shareholders, creditors, or third parties
✓ Employment Practices Liability (EPL) - claims from current, former, or prospective employees including unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment, bullying, and failure to promote
✓ Company reimbursement - covers the company when it indemnifies directors and officers for covered claims under company constitution or law
✓ Statutory liability - fines and pecuniary penalties for unintentional breaches of WHS legislation, the Fair Work Act, environmental laws, or other statutory obligations
✓ Defence costs - legal fees to defend claims before the Fair Work Commission, ASIC, ACCC, or courts, even if the claim is ultimately unsuccessful
✓ Wrongful termination claims - protection when a former employee alleges unfair or unlawful dismissal through Fair Work or other channels
✓ Third-party discrimination claims - claims from clients, suppliers, or contractors alleging discriminatory conduct by the business or its management

Not Typically Covered

✕ Intentional fraud, dishonesty, or criminal conduct by the insured
✕ Claims arising from known circumstances not disclosed to the insurer
✕ Bodily injury or property damage (covered by Public Liability insurance)
✕ Professional negligence in service delivery (covered by Professional Indemnity insurance)
✕ Pollution or environmental liability (requires separate cover)
✕ Claims related to insolvency where directors traded while insolvent

Policy wordings vary between insurers. We review the fine print to ensure your specific exposures are covered - and flag any gaps before you need to claim.

Get Quote

RISK ASSESSMENT

Does your business need Management Liability insurance?

Management Liability is relevant for any business with employees, a board structure, or directors who could be held personally liable for business decisions under Australian law.

Businesses with employees - EPL exposure exists from day one, regardless of team size
Companies with directors or a formal board structure
Scale-ups and growth-stage businesses adding staff quickly
Businesses in regulated industries facing ASIC, ACCC, or Fair Work obligations
Companies tendering for contracts that require ML cover
Startups with investors or external shareholders
Businesses that have previously faced employee disputes or Fair Work claims
Any Pty Ltd where directors could be held personally liable under Australian law

If you have employees or make decisions that affect third parties, you likely have exposure that Management Liability can address. Over 700 Commonwealth laws impose personal liability on company directors.

Get a Quote

CLIENT SUCCESS

How we've helped businesses secure Management Liability cover

Real examples of how we've placed ML and D&O cover for Australian businesses across multiple industries.

MYTHS VS REALITY

Common misconceptions about Management Liability

We hear these from business owners every week. Here's what you actually need to know.

Insurance broker providing expert advice on management liability coverage during a professional consultation in Australia

This is one of the most common mistakes we see. Any Pty Ltd company with directors has personal liability exposure. Under Australian law, there are over 700 Commonwealth statutes that can impose personal liability on directors. It doesn't matter if you have 5 employees or 500 - the exposure is the same. In fact, smaller businesses are often more vulnerable because they don't have in-house legal teams to navigate disputes.

Directors & Officers insurance is one section of a Management Liability policy, but ML is much broader. A full Management Liability package typically includes D&O, Employment Practices Liability (EPL), statutory liability, company reimbursement, and sometimes crime or fidelity cover. Buying D&O alone can leave significant gaps in your protection.

Standard business insurance packages typically cover property damage and public liability. They don't cover employment-related claims like unfair dismissal, workplace harassment, or discrimination. These fall under the EPL section of a Management Liability policy. If an employee takes you to the Fair Work Commission, your business insurance won't respond.

The corporate veil doesn't provide the protection most directors think it does. Directors can be held personally liable for breaches of the Corporations Act, WHS legislation, environmental laws, tax obligations, and competition law. ASIC, the ATO, and Safe Work Australia all have the power to pursue directors individually - and they do. A D&O policy protects directors' personal assets when this happens.

We've placed Management Liability policies from $500 for smaller firms. The cost depends on your industry, number of employees, claims history, and the limits you need. For many SMEs, the annual premium is less than the cost of a single hour of legal advice - and a single unfair dismissal claim can easily cost $50,000 or more to defend.

COMMON QUESTIONS

What do business owners ask about Management Liability?

Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance is one component of a Management Liability policy. Management Liability is a packaged product that typically combines D&O cover with Employment Practices Liability, statutory liability, company reimbursement, and sometimes crime or fidelity cover. For most SMEs, a Management Liability package is more practical and cost-effective than buying each cover separately.
Yes. Under Australian law, there are over 700 Commonwealth statutes that impose personal liability on directors. Directors can be held personally liable for decisions that cause financial loss to shareholders, creditors, or third parties. This includes allegations of mismanagement, breach of fiduciary duty, insolvent trading, or failure to comply with WHS obligations. D&O cover within a Management Liability policy protects directors' personal assets when they're pursued individually.
Yes. The Employment Practices Liability (EPL) section covers claims from employees alleging unfair dismissal, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, or failure to promote. This is one of the most frequently claimed sections of a Management Liability policy, particularly for businesses going through restructures, redundancies, or rapid growth.
It's not legally mandatory, but many contracts, investors, and funding agreements require it. Some industry regulations also effectively make it necessary. For any business with employees or a board structure, the exposure is real - and the cost of defending a claim without cover can run into the tens or hundreds of thousands. We see it as essential rather than optional for any Pty Ltd with directors or staff.
Premiums depend on factors including number of employees, industry, claims history, revenue, and the limits you need. We've placed policies from $500 for smaller firms through to $6,500 for complex multi-cover packages across financial services, healthcare, and education sectors. We compare quotes across 15+ insurers to make sure you're getting competitive terms for the cover you actually need.
Professional Indemnity (PI) covers claims arising from your professional services or advice - errors, omissions, or negligence in the work you deliver to clients. Management Liability covers claims arising from how you manage your business - employment disputes, director decisions, regulatory investigations, and statutory breaches. They protect against different risks, and many businesses need both.
Yes. The EPL section of a Management Liability policy covers defence costs and compensation arising from Fair Work Commission claims, including unfair dismissal applications, general protections claims, and anti-bullying orders. Given that Fair Work claims are increasing in Australia, this is one of the most valuable sections of an ML policy for businesses with employees.
Sole traders without employees or a company structure generally don't need full Management Liability cover, as there are no directors to protect and no employees to trigger EPL claims. However, if you operate through a Pty Ltd company (even as the sole director), you have personal liability exposure under the Corporations Act. In that case, at minimum a D&O policy is worth considering.
Some Management Liability policies include a crime or fidelity section that covers losses from employee theft, fraud, or dishonesty. Not all policies include this automatically, so it's important to check the wording. If employee fraud is a concern for your business, we can ensure your policy includes this cover or arrange it separately.
The company typically pays the premium for a Management Liability policy, which covers both the company and its individual directors and officers. The policy has different insuring clauses: Side A covers directors personally when the company can't indemnify them, Side B reimburses the company when it does indemnify directors, and Side C (entity cover) covers the company itself. This structure means directors get personal protection without paying out of their own pocket.
Professional business executives discussing management liability and directors obligations in a corporate boardroom

Need Management Liability cover for your business?

Whether you're a startup, scale-up, or established business with employees, we compare 15+ insurers to find the right cover at the right price.

Sydney-based. Backed by the Steadfast Network and NIBA members.

Call 02 9000 1155 Get a Quote →

Expert Review: 01/03/2026

Verified by Tank Insurance Brokers

Call Us Now +61 2 9000 1155