Queensland Valuation and Sales Code of Conduct
The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) provides bulk Queensland Valuation and Sales System (QVAS) electronic data, including personal information such as names and service addresses of vendors and purchasers, to data brokers for a fee.
The data brokers mainly provide the data to industry groups including valuers, real estate agents, surveyors and financial institutions for a range of purposes. For example, valuers use information such as sales history of other properties in the area to produce reports that inform people of the value of the house they may be buying or selling.
To address concerns about the inappropriate use of this data for direct marketing purposes, a self-regulated industry QVAS Code of Conduct (PDF, 90K)* has been introduced.
From 1 October 2009, bulk QVAS electronic data, containing personal information, will only be provided to data broker licensees who have signed up to the Code of Conduct.
The Code of Conduct is administered by a three-member Code Oversight Committee, which will monitor compliance with the code and receive and investigate complaints. The Committee comprises an independent chair, an industry representative and a consumer representative.
After 1 October 2009, landholders may apply to the Committee at the address below, to have their personal information suppressed and added to a Register of Request Suppressions. Data brokers must then suppress that information within their systems, and ensure personal details are not disclosed.
For further information, please contact:
QVAS Code of Conduct Code Oversight Committee
PO Box 828
Kenmore QLD 4069
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Last updated: 09 November 2009