Just received news that the Federal Government has announced a review into auDA. Read the press release from Senator The Hon Mitch Fyfield. Click on the link at the bottom of the story.
A review of auDA’s governance arrangements and an assessment of the terms of endorsement will examine whether Australia’s top-level domain, .au, is being managed consistent with Government and community expectations. It is anticipated that the review would be finalised in early 2018.
Here are the Terms of Reference.
Looks like complaints have finally been acknowledged. The Government have been left with little choice. Maybe the last straw was Nicole Murdoch’s letter of complaint to the Minister about being disenfranchised as a member.
On the other hand, the only worry I have is that this is some “Machiavellian plot” cooked up by some at auDA in order to get rid of pesky members. I’m being very serious here. I would not put it past some of them – they were very stung by the SGM. They were so peed off that the Corporations Act allowed as little as 16 members to call a S249D meeting that ultimately rolled a Chair.
Having said that, their tactics for the SGM backfired on them. If this review does have anything to do with some at auDA, we can only hope they play another blinder, and that this also “bites them in the bum”. 😉
Most importantly though, we do NOT want a whitewash.
Ned O’Meara – 19th October 2017
Disclaimer
Thanks Ned
After having a quick read of what they will be looking at I’m not sure auDA is really complying at that moment.
Is the Government offering “Whistleblower Protection” for past staff, past and present directors, lawyers, auditors, consultants and all stakeholders who can provide information?
Hopefully the real facts come out and a proper investigation review done.
This FOI is still current for a response https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/au_historical_financial_irregula
Any attempt at a whitewash could bring down the Liberal Party term as the current ruling Government…. seriously.. The Minister and Government allowed this to go on for too long and as per the auDA Constitution the buck stops with the Government actually.
How about that 2008 promised wholesale .au price decrease which auDA never acted on to have passed on to .au consumers?
http://www.theage.com.au/small-business/smallbiz-tech/millions-of-australian-domain-name-owners-ripped-off-20170807-gxqpzs.html
http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/smallbiz-tech/millions-of-australian-domain-name-owners-ripped-off-20170807-gxqpzs.html
Media has it now and I think they will start to dig deeper..
https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/628853/govt-launches-review-into-aussie-domain-management/
From before
https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/5…ern-over-proposed-domain-name-system-changes/
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/au_historical_financial_irregula
That is the key Ned. Let’s have a genuine inquiry into the .au proposal, extremely high rates of staff leaving, inappropriate director appointments, membership structure & withholding information from members.
Fun fact 1 is that Fifield’s electorate office is in Mentone, Victoria.
Fun fact 2 is that Cameron Boardman was President of the Mentone branch of the Liberal Party from 1995 – 1996.
Fascinating news, Ned.
Industry-specific media overseas are already picking it up. We just need to wait and see if the announcement generates some mainstream coverage.
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/10/19/australian_government_launches_review_of_au_domain/