Australian Insurers Back Mandatory Smoke Detectors

A proposal by the government of New South Wales that would make the installation of smoke detection devices in homes mandatory has received the backing of the Australian insurance industry

According to a report in The Australian, Emergency Services Minister Tony Kelly has met with insurance company representatives and has received support for the proposal. The government plans to officially introduce the measure on June 13.

The regulation would allow Australian insurers to take the presence (or absence) of smoke detection devices into account in setting homeowners’ premiums.

The initiative move comes after a series of recent fires in the State which have claimed 13 lives.