MANAGEMENT COLUMN
established, local authorities provide a much
wider range of services. This means the Australian
council may have little involvement in areas
where the partner city has an interest.
Furthermore the position of mayor is often held in
much greater esteem in many countries, particularly
in Asia, than it is in Australia. Face-to-face contact
between mayors and a regular program of cultural
exchanges are often seen as providing an essential
foundation for the establishment of relationships
between local and overseas businesses and
institutions, even ones not connected to or
managed by either council. These expectations
can place unanticipated pressures on councils.
Changes in leadership in either the Australian
council or its overseas counterpart can also impact
the relationship, particularly where the incoming
councillors have little interest in maintaining the
international program.
So can and should Australian local governments
play an expanded role? Well, the evidence suggests
that interest in establishing sister city relationships
is increasing, with around 37 new relationships
having been established in the period during 2010–
13, many with Asian cities. There is an argument,
however, for Australian local governments to think
carefully about how to maximise the benefits of
their international relationships, and perhaps take
a more planned and strategic approach to their
international programs.
While a number of councils have acknowledged
the need to adopt a more strategic framework,
only a few have fully implemented such a model.
Capacity constraints could be driving this,
along with an apprehension that drawing any
attention to the partnerships has the potential
to stir up a hornets’ nest in the media and local
community. However, the evidence suggests
that by adopting a more strategic approach and
placing the international program in the context
of the council’s broader strategic objectives, the
benefits will be maximised. A nationally-accepted
framework for measuring the value of sister
cities and international alliances may also assist
councils to adopt a more strategic approach.
On the international assistance front, the
Australian Government’s programs have tended
to draw on its own workforce, even though