58
MANAGEMENT COLUMN
SISTER CITIES AND
INTERNATIONAL
ALLIANCES
Can and should Australian local
governments play an expanded role?
Local government in Australia has a long history
of establishing international links ranging from
the traditional sister city arrangements, to highlystructured strategic, economic, social, cultural,
educational and capacity building alliances.
While most of the traditional sister city
arrangements were established after the Second
World War with a focus on friendship and
cultural exchanges, a number of Australian local
governments have extended the \