Land valuation system 'not good enough'

ABC Online, 5 October 2005

The Property Council of Australia says the New South Wales Government should make a priority of fixing the land valuation system in the state.

A report by the ombudsman yesterday found the State Government may have foregone land tax revenue because of undervaluation of land.

The ombudsman also found one-in-four individual complaints about inflated land valuations had been upheld.

Ken Morrison, from the Property Council of Australia, says one way or another, an accurate system is urgently needed.

"It's just not good enough. Taxpayers want to know that their land tax bills are based on accurate valuations and you shouldn't be forced to lodge an objection to ensure that you pay the right level of tax," he said.

"There are some major faults been identified here and they need to be fixed."

The man who triggered the ombudsman's report by sending in a complaint , lawyer David Singer, says the system can not be fixed.

"The whole process is completely flawed and I maintain that it is in terminal meltdown and can't be rectified," he said.

"The ombudsman seems to think it can but so [did] another investigation that took place in 1999 by Julie Walton. She thought it could be fixed too and recommended how it be done and you can see the sorry state that it is in today."

Further Information

For further information contact:

• Simon Singer
• David Singer