From 11 to 14 March, Assistant Director Hiromi Hakuta visited the Clarence City Council in Tasmania for his internship.
Whilst there he talked with some managers and staff, and learned from them about community development, community consultation, economic development, strategic planning, museum operation and so on.
One of the things he noticed through his internship was the difference of local government finance – especially the “local tax” – between Australia and Japan. In Japan, local taxation rate is basically the same throughout the country.
However in Tasmania, council rates are not the same all over the state and if additional income is needed, rates from tax payers can be increased. Hakuta felt that to avoid rate increases, councillors and council staff worked more effectively, and residents were keen to cooperate with the council’s work as volunteers to minimise council expenses (this is of course not the only reason why residents volunteer!)
Hiromi sincerely appreciates the council staff’s assistance and Alderman James Walker’s effort to make this internship a reality.
CLAIR organises an annual exchange program called
“The Local Government Exchange & Cooperation Seminar”
for senior staff of Australian and New Zealand’s local governments or related organisation to visit Japan and learn about Japanese local governments. Why don’t you join the exchange program this year?
