❓ Hon Nigel Hallett questions Landgate's role in land valuations for land tax, seeking justification for its exclusivity and the lack of pro-rata rebates for sellers. The Minister's response clarifies Landgate's statutory responsibilities and independence.
AnsweredQoN 1228Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LANDGATE — LAND VALUATIONS
1228. Hon NIGEL HALLETT to the minister
representing the Minister for Lands:
I refer to the Western Australian
Land Information Authority, Landgate.
(1) Can the
minister please explain why Landgate is the only authority through which land
valuations are determined for the purposes of land tax?
(2) Why does the
state government not allow commercial property valuations, to enable property
owners to seek an independent or comparative value of their property?
(3) What evidence is there to show
that Landgate valuations are current with today's market values?
(4) Given that
lending institutions use independent property valuation companies, could the
minister please explain why this does not extend to the Department of Finance?
(5) Given that
land tax is calculated on 30 June, why is the period of tax not rebated to a seller
pro rata in a similar way to that of rates and other expenses, at the date of
settlement?
1228. Hon NIGEL HALLETT to the minister
representing the Minister for Lands:
I refer to the Western Australian
Land Information Authority, Landgate.
(1) Can the
minister please explain why Landgate is the only authority through which land
valuations are determined for the purposes of land tax?
(2) Why does the
state government not allow commercial property valuations, to enable property
owners to seek an independent or comparative value of their property?
(3) What evidence is there to show
that Landgate valuations are current with today's market values?
(4) Given that
lending institutions use independent property valuation companies, could the
minister please explain why this does not extend to the Department of Finance?
(5) Given that
land tax is calculated on 30 June, why is the period of tax not rebated to a seller
pro rata in a similar way to that of rates and other expenses, at the date of
settlement?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question.
(1) The
Valuer-General has statutory responsibility for conducting general valuations
of all rateable and taxable land under the Valuation of Land Act 1978. The act
requires the Valuer-General to be an employee of the Western Australian Land
Information Authority, which is known as Landgate.
(2) Property owners are not
prevented from seeking commercial property valuations.
(3) A general
valuation is conducted by the Valuer-General each year. It is measured through
accuracy and uniformity checks, which form part of Landgate's published
key performance indicators, available on the agency's website.
(4) The Valuation
of Land Act 1978 requires the Valuer-General to create and maintain the state's
valuation rolls as well as periodically conduct general valuations. The
Valuer-General and Landgate's valuers, operating under this delegation,
are independent from the Department of Finance, which is protected by law.
(5) This is the responsibility of
the Minister for Finance.
of the question.
(1) The
Valuer-General has statutory responsibility for conducting general valuations
of all rateable and taxable land under the Valuation of Land Act 1978. The act
requires the Valuer-General to be an employee of the Western Australian Land
Information Authority, which is known as Landgate.
(2) Property owners are not
prevented from seeking commercial property valuations.
(3) A general
valuation is conducted by the Valuer-General each year. It is measured through
accuracy and uniformity checks, which form part of Landgate's published
key performance indicators, available on the agency's website.
(4) The Valuation
of Land Act 1978 requires the Valuer-General to create and maintain the state's
valuation rolls as well as periodically conduct general valuations. The
Valuer-General and Landgate's valuers, operating under this delegation,
are independent from the Department of Finance, which is protected by law.
(5) This is the responsibility of
the Minister for Finance.
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