An auDA Director phoned me last week for a chat. I took the opportunity to lament about the current lack of transparency, accountability and communications at auDA. He assured me that with the new CEO on board, this is all going to change. I sincerely hope it does – but I will believe it when I see it.
These are some of the pressing issues that need to be addressed in my opinion:
- Once again, Board Minutes are not publicly available within the promised “one month after meetings”. Given that there were two special Board Meetings held on the 25th and 27th July, these Minutes should now be publicly available. There has been a subsequent Board Meeting on the 30th August, so the Minutes should have been approved for release.
- Why has there still been no official announcement to Members about the three Directors who are no longer in office? I wrote about this here.
- Two of these Directors were “Independent Directors”. Given the often competing interests between Supply and Demand Directors, it is absolutely vital in my opinion that suitably qualified replacements are found sooner rather than later. Balance on the Board is vital.
- What is happening about a replacement for the Demand Class Director (Miguel Wood) who served less than seven months of his two year term? Demand Class is now under-represented.
- What is going on with regards direct registrations? It’s been all quiet for 6 months. There was supposed to be a working group put together from a cross section of stakeholders to come up with implementation recommendations. Plus public consultation etc. I’ve been asking the question of various people including Directors, and I keep getting fobbed off. As a reminder, this is an excerpt from the press release dated 18th April:
“auDA will now undertake a comprehensive policy development process and further stakeholder consultations to determine the best approach for implementing direct registrations in .au, including taking into account the impact on existing registrants, in a manner that is consistent with the .au policy and regulatory framework, and that maintains the overall stability and integrity of the .au DNS.
auDA will make further announcements during the year as the implementation work progresses.”
Come on auDA – please tell us your Members what is going on. You have an obligation to do so. Communication solves a lot of ills. We’re not mushrooms that need to be kept in the dark!
Disclaimer
I agree with all your issues, Ned.
As a member of auDA I too would like answers to all these questions as soon as possible.
Does auDA understand and/or care that all of these issues directly affect my business, and millions of Australian businesses who currently hold an Australian 2LD domain name?
Good question Robert. It’s election time soon, so no doubt we will suddenly hear from existing Directors who want to get re-elected.
It’s also worth the investment to make a trip to Melbourne for the AGM (whenever they have it). You can get up on the floor and ask as many questions as you like (assuming they don’t try and shut you down). Just work in some other appointments to help defray the cost.
It’s pretty disapointing that we don’t even have Miguel’s reason for resigning. Has he been gagged or intimidated by legal BS about confidentiality like others have?
@David – the reason I was given by a third party was that he was “too busy” to properly contribute. He is apparently also completing a Ph.D. I find it absolutely ridiculous that no announcement has been made by auDA.
Also, the candidates that came 3rd and 4th must be fairly pissed. http://www.domainer.com.au/auda-agm/
Too busy eh? That’ s a piss poor effort then.
I wonder where Josh stands on direct registrations.
No board minutes again? Wtf is going on?
This meme perhaps sums it up?
A class action lawsuit about the problems caused by the direct registrations process and media which affected some businesses etc is coming…..maybe auDA and a few board members have already heard about it….
Every person who owns a .com.au name and feels their investment, IP etc has been affected may be able to participate.
I doubt the Directors insurance or $10 million auDA has in the bank from registrant fees wIll be enough to stop this class action from being successful and not only taking out the auDA bank balance but all of those involved past and recently resigned.. No escaping by resigning from being an auDA director…..
It is an obvious conflict of interest for board members to promote the new proposed .au extension is better than the .com.au version. This false marketing and promotions have caused damages to many parties reliant on their .com.au name and in many cases their whole business based around their .com.au.
auDA is the only body who reserved and then auctioned generic .com.au domain names stating their long term market value and that they where the best names.
I am 100% sure major companies such as carsales.com.au realestate.com.au Rsvp.com.au Seek.com.au Fairfax etc are getting legal advice on the materials auDA, Ausregistry, Melbourne IT and other board members have sent out which jeopardise their businesses, IP and domain name market position.