LAND VALUATION

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. J.A. Darley:

That the regulations under the Valuation of Land Act 1971 concerning fees and allowances, made on 27 August 2009 and laid on the table of this council on 8 September 2009, be disallowed.

(Continued from 28 October 2009. Page 3743.)

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (16:47): As I indicated previously, I will move to disallow these regulations as I believe that review valuers are grossly overpaid as a result of these fees, especially when consideration is given to the task they are asked to undertake.

Prior to moving my motion for disallowance, I had been in discussion with the Valuer-General's office in an attempt to come to a compromise position on the fees in order to more adequately reflect the duties required of review valuers. At the time, we had been unable to come to a mutually agreeable position.

Discussions have continued and have often been long and frustrating, especially in relation to additional fees given for complexity. Whilst I still hold concerns as to the application of these fees, the Valuer-General has assured me that these complexity fees will be applied only in exceptional circumstances and that the vast majority of reviews will attract the base fee. Therefore, I am pleased to indicate that, with the assistance of the Minister for Infrastructure and the minister's office, the Valuer-General and I have been able to come to a compromise position, which has the support of two nominating bodies: the Real Estate Institute of South Australia and the Australian Property Institute (SA Division). I therefore move:

That this order of the day be discharged.

Motion carried.