Your local agent wants you to list with him, to earn a big chunk of commission. There is no evidence to support the claim that agents are the only people who can sell a property; in fact, there is so much evidence to support otherwise. We have hundreds of successful sales and reviews from Australian's, just like you, who have taken their sale back into their own hands, and saved a lot of dollars in the process.
What's more, is that Private Sellers usually make more on the sale of their property and can often find it easier to sell. You are literally saving yourself thousands of dollars. Another huge benefit is that when you aren't looking at a huge commission and marketing costs, if needed you can afford to market your property at a lower price-point, putting your home at a market advantage. This can mean all the difference in a buyers market.