REDLAND City Council has voted to shift its four existing international city agreements into temporary strategic partnerships, while ordering further councillor scrutiny of any broader partnership framework.
The motion was carried 8–1 at today’s council meeting, with Cr Paul Gollè voting against.
Under the resolution, Council will transition its agreements with Qinhuangdao and Wuchuan in China, Yong-in in South Korea and Kani City in Japan into temporary Strategic City Partnership Agreements for the remainder of the current council term.
The arrangements will follow guidance from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with councillors to receive annual updates on activities, outcomes and benefits to Council and the community.
Cr Paul Bishop moved the amendment, which ensures the International Relations Program Review remains focused on Council’s overseas relationships, including sister-city agreements, honorary ambassador arrangements and future agreement review mechanisms.
Cr Bishop said he supported international relationships that were respectful, transparent, mutually beneficial and able to deliver cultural, educational, social or economic benefits for Redlands Coast.
“My proposed amendment is about governance and clarity,” he said.
He said the original report had identified broader partnership opportunities — including arrangements with other Australian councils and operational partnerships with organisations — but argued these should be considered separately.
“While they are absolutely valuable and important things going forward, they are fundamentally and subtly different from our international city relationships,” Cr Bishop said.
“I don’t want to see those additional opportunities constrained. I just want to see them properly considered.”
The amendment requires a future councillor workshop before any broader framework for strategic council partnerships or organisational partnerships is authorised or implemented.
Any resulting policy or guideline changes must then return to Council for consideration.
Cr Gollè asked what a broader partnership framework would include, with Cr Bishop saying the review had identified opportunities for strategic arrangements with other councils and third-party organisations.
“They are important parts of Council’s partnership and economic development work going forward,” Cr Bishop said.
“But introducing them into this policy and guideline is a step removed from the original intent of the International Relations Program review.”
A Council officer told the meeting there was no existing policy or guideline for broader strategic partnerships across Council, although one could be developed for future consideration.
Council already has an International Relations Program policy and guideline, with officers proposing minor administrative updates following the review.
The review found some existing city ties had become inactive or lacked clear governance and defined outcomes. Kani City remains Council’s strongest recent international relationship, supporting school and university student visits to Redlands Coast since 2024.
