Adopted by Council: 4 June 2012    

Policy Goals

Latrobe City has established and managed formal sister city relationships on behalf of our community, to gain a deeper understanding of each other's culture, traditions, society and people.  To this end, Latrobe City has two formal sister city relationships; with Takasago City, Japan and the City of Taizhou, China.

Latrobe City recognises that a key to achieving this deeper understanding is through young people and this is why a significant focus of Latrobe City’s programs is with the youth of our community. A Sister City Program enables citizens to become directly involved in international relations in a unique and meaningful way, bringing long-term benefits to the local community and its partners abroad.

Sister city relationships allow communities to exchange experiences and ideas, gain an international perspective and increase their understanding of global issues.

In addition to encouraging international peace and goodwill, Latrobe City’s sister city relationships go much further leading to economic growth, increased tourism, and reliable business contacts.  

Benefits of Sister Cities

Our Sister City Program helps promote Latrobe City as a city of global significance, through exchanges and initiatives that focus on five key areas – education, culture, trade, tourism and sport. The program enables us to foster international peace and goodwill, enriching our community with a broader understanding of other nations, their traditions, customs and cultures. Crucially though, it also provides a multi-lateral framework for cultivating economic growth across a host of trade, industry and business sectors.

The Economic and Business Benefits

Our active sister city relationships have an important role to play in developing international economic partnerships.  Latrobe City enjoys investment in the billions from International interests in local industry and there is a demonstrated and sustained interest in Latrobe City as a potential investment location from overseas firms.

 Helping to establish reliable business contacts and thereby improve business opportunities, the program acts as a gateway to new markets and trade alliances. It acts as a springboard and catalyst for new investment and knowledge-sharing opportunities, while also promoting tourism, inbound education and providing a platform from which we can address global issues with our international partners.

The Social and Cultural Benefits

Through cultural, educational and sporting exchanges, the program helps to break down intercultural barriers. It promotes diversity and encourages openness, tolerance and mutual understanding, all of which enrich our communities and those of our international partners. This policy outlines the guidelines for sending Latrobe City Council led delegations from Latrobe City to our Sister Cities abroad.    

Policy Implementation

Timelines:

• A draft itinerary and suggested attendees shall be presented to Council for endorsement within a minimum of 30 days of the proposed departure date.
• A report outlining the key outcomes from sister city visits shall be provided to Council within 60 days of a delegations return to Australia.  

Councillors:

• The Mayor and/or their delegate will generally be required to attend sister city visits to represent the City.  The Deputy Mayor and/or Councillors who sit on the Latrobe City International Relations Committee would generally be selected as the Mayors delegate.
• Council must approve the Councillor representative prior to any expense being incurred.
• Additional Councillors may also be invited to attend, but this would normally be at the Councillors own expense.  

Council Officers

• The Chief Executive Officer will advise Council the officers who will attend sister city visits in order to achieve the objectives of the planned visit.  

Community Representatives

• Community representatives shall be selected / recommended by a selection panel made up of the Mayor and/or Councillors who sit on the Latrobe City International Relations Committee and appropriate council officers.
•  If there is to be any expense incurred by Latrobe City Council by the inclusion of community representatives attending sister city trips, all names and the purpose of their attendance shall be provided to Council for approval.  

Budgets:

• The budget for any proposed outbound sister city visits must be approved by Council prior to any expense being incurred. A report outlining the expenses incurred in undertaking a sister city visit shall be provided to Council within 60 days of a delegations return to Australia.  

This policy has been reviewed after giving proper consideration to all the rights contained within the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006; and any reasonable limitation to human rights can be demonstrably justified.