With local government amalgamation becoming a reality in more parts of Japan, Japanese public sector discourse has begun tackling the issue of sub-regional representation in large-population local government areas. From 25-27 February, as part of a Japanese project on the comparative study of worldwide regional representation models, CLAIR Sydney had the pleasure of facilitating field research on Australian local government precinct committee systems by Professor Tsumoru Ino of HeiseiInternationalUniversity’s Faculty of Law.
On 25 February, Manly Council Mayor Jean Hay AM and Deputy Mayor Alan Le Surf received Professor Ino and CLAIR Sydney Director Yasuhiko Tanabe at council chambers, where the professor heard a comprehensive presentation from Precinct Coordinator Sally Cornelius on Manly’s precinct committee system, its formation, current activities and challenges. On 26 February, North Sydney Council’s Community Engagement Coordinator William Adames briefed Professor Ino on precinct committees in his council, the first LGA to adopt this system of local advisory bodies.
The next day at North Sydney Council chambers, Professor Ino met with the precinct coordinators of all councils in New South Wales with this system in place (Leichhardt, Manly, North Sydney, Randwick, Waverley and Wyong), for an exchange of views and general discussion on the operations and issues arising from their LGAs’ respective precinct systems.
We express our deep thanks to all councils that kindly assisted with Professor Ino’s research.
