June deadline looms for LGs to register sister city agreements

Local Governments have until 10 June to notify the Department of Foreign Affairs of non-core foreign arrangements entered into on or before 9 March.

Under the Foreign Arrangements Scheme that began last December, Local Governments have (since 10 March) been required to:

• notify the Minister when proposing to enter into any non-core foreign arrangements; and
• notify the Minister after entering into any non-core foreign arrangements (within 14 days of entry).

Arrangements should be notified through the Foreign Arrangements Portal.

Any local government that does not yet have access to the Portal can obtain access by emailing the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Foreign Arrangements Taskforce at foreignarrangements@dfat.gov.au

Click here for further information about the scheme, including guidance on what a foreign arrangement is and a Fact Sheet on Local Governments’ obligations.