Value NSW: reform update

Members would be aware from our last bulletin that the PSA sought information on the administration of temporary and contingent labour in the areas affected by the reform.

Value NSW has finally provided the PSA with the detail requested and has extended the consultation with the PSA as part of those consultation obligations.

From the PSA perspective, there are legitimate reasons why Value NSW would use temporary employment options for temporary programs, backfilling of roles, graduates, etcetera.

This information provides the PSA and its members with a better understanding of the current workforce requirements that were not clearly outlined in the Change Management Plan (CMP) or the proposed organisational charts.

For instance, the information provided on the four designated “contingent labour” Data Customer Officers, was that they were engaged on short-term arrangements to assist with a backlog in work that will conclude in 2026, with the anticipated implementation of the CMP. This understanding appears to be fundamentally different to the understanding of the current backlog and the effort required to facilitate its upkeep and completion.

Much of the feedback from members has been:

1. the system limitations in VALiQ that require elements of double handling and time-wasting reconciliation by those staff who rely on the information provided by the system to undertake valuations;
2. the inefficiency caused between systems not being able to talk to each other in a meaningful manner (Valnet & VALiQ);
3. the concern that the system limitations will not be rectified sufficiently to promote the proposed organisational structures without creating reputational risks and workload pressures;
4. previous predictions on system accessibility, transformation and efficiency (that predicated previous reform) which have not been fully realised;
5. proposed role evaluations for positions and whether the correct comparisons have been undertaken using up to date information, or qualifications that the PSA maintains are not relevant;
6. the current business case for the creation new Valuer roles which appears to come at the expense of existing roles that are still necessary;
7. the detailed information of the number of outstanding land data general work, VALIQ system tickets, unprocessed subdivision workflows and VALiQ core modules.
8. the length of these backlogs and resourcing plans, or lack thereof, to address the risks
9. a lack of understanding of the financial impacts that the Review of Valuer General prices to local government 2025 rather than just vague undefined requirements for budgetary repair
10. the concern that the potential reputational risk with councils, being glossed over.

As part of the PSA responses to Value NSW, the PSA has:

1. questioned the attempted minimization of the current system deficiencies as well as the current backlog to continue with proposed reform;
2. made it clear that Value NSW should not continue to use contingent labour when there is work available for ongoing staff; and
3. questioned the timing of the proposed reform being premature in its nature and predicated on system efficiencies and transformation that is yet to be materialized.
4. questioned whether the proposed reform will create reputational harm and business risk to Value NSW as well as the to the NSW Housing Accords.

The PSA will update the members once we have received a response from Value NSW.

For more information, contact Shane Howes, Industrial Officer on 1800 772 679.