A difference between NSW strata building insurance requirements and other states (VIC at least) seems to be this:
NSW states: (s.81) a building includes: “owners’ improvements… other than paint, wallpaper and temporary wall, floor and ceiling coverings”
VIC states: (s.54) a building: “does not include carpet and temporary floor, wall and ceiling coverings” (so paint and wallpaper are not specifically mentioned)
I know that what Garbla says has been said before – to choose the same insurance company as the OC for private lot contents insurance. But that requires synchronising lot cover with the OC’s insurance renewal date. Because the OC could very well renew with another insurance company on that date. So it’s really a bit easier said than done.
The above doesn’t change the OC’s negligence responsibility. But it does mean that insurance companies can cover things like paint regardless of negligence (but not always in NSW).