The government offered to buy my land but the price seems too low. Can I negotiate?

What the Law Says

In Australia, compulsory land acquisition is governed by state and territory legislation, not a single national law. Each jurisdiction sets rules for how governments may acquire private land, what constitutes fair compensation, and your rights to object or negotiate.

The core principle across all Australian jurisdictions is that you are entitled to 'just terms' compensation — generally defined as the market value of the land at the time of acquisition, plus any financial losses directly caused by the acquisition (e.g., relocation costs, legal fees, or business disruption).

You do not have to accept the government’s initial offer. Most state laws give you a formal window — typically 60 days from receiving the notice of intention to acquire — to object in writing and request a reassessment.

If agreement cannot be reached, you may refer the matter to an independent tribunal or valuation body (e.g., the Valuation Tribunal in NSW or the State Administrative Tribunal in WA), which will determine fair compensation based on evidence including independent valuations.

Statutory Text

The owner of land that is acquired is entitled to receive compensation in accordance with this Division.

— Land Acquisition Act 1989 (Cth), s. 42 — Entitlement to compensation

Statutory Text

A person who claims to be entitled to compensation… may, within 60 days after the date of service of the notice of acquisition, lodge with the acquiring authority a written objection…

— Land Acquisition Act 1989 (Cth), s. 49 — Objection to acquisition

What to Do

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