Yesterday, Nicole Murdoch and I were elected to the auDA Board as Demand Class Directors. As you can imagine, we are over the moon – and looking forward to the challenge ahead.
So here’s a big collective thank you to everyone that supported us. There are too many people to name individually, but please know that we appreciated your support along the way – and your vote on the day. We are very grateful.
The result was emphatic, and to my mind, a very big wake up call to auDA. The turmoil of the past 20 months has left a lot of members unimpressed, and yesterday the metaphorical baseball bats were brought out.
We look forward to supporting current Demand Class Director Tim Connell, and the yet to be appointed “casual vacancy” caused by the sudden resignation of Simon Johnson. Tim is a good friend of mine, and he has been so supportive of our election. Thanks Tim. 🙂
Where To From Here?
It’s important to remember that we are part of a Board of Directors, and we are currently in the minority on lots of issues. Magic isn’t going to happen overnight. We can’t enact anything – but we can push for the changes we stood for on the “Grumpy” platform. Everyone can rest assured that we will be doing that. Beginning is winning.
This is what we stood for:
- auDA should be a true membership organisation.
- Total transparency with all members and stakeholders.
- Better communication and consultation.
- Prompt publication of Agendas, Minutes & Reports.
- Proper and effective growth of the Australian namespace to benefit all participants.
- Free auDA membership to all registrants (opt-in).
- Updating the very tired auDA Constitution.
- Strong effective leadership for the benefit of all.
This is what we were against:
- Lack of proper consultation with all auDA members.
- Direct Registration – it is a double tax on registrants.
- Introducing biggest change to .au without first consulting all registrants.
- Blame games against past Directors and staff.
- Divisions between Supply and Demand – we are all Members. It shouldn’t be “them and us”.
- The amount of red tape for registrars, re-sellers and registrants.
Final Thoughts
Generally speaking, I am impressed by the new Chair Chris Leptos. I think this was an excellent appointment for auDA members, and I believe he will lead true change to the culture at the organisation. As always though, time will tell!
In my opinion, it’s important that he and every other Director remember that auDA is a membership organisation, and members have rights and expectations. This has been so clearly demonstrated this year via the members Special General Meeting, and yesterday’s AGM election result.
Bring back the communication, transparency and proper processes that have been so sorely lacking, and you will find that members “tones” improve remarkably. This is the message we will be taking to the Board.
Ned O’Meara – 28th November 2017
Disclaimer
Congratulations Ned & Nicole! Well deserved, and a very positive sign for all demand class members.
Well done. 🙂
Shane – thank you sincerely. You have been a true team player, and I take my hat off to you for that.
You were the one that should have been elected to the casual vacancy, but events conspired against that. Your subsequent support of Nicole and me has been nothing but outstanding. You’re a class act.
Ned
I second Shanes comments and wish you both well as new directors.
Don
Good on you Don – you’re not bad for an old bloke from QLD! 😉
Great news, well done
Thanks mate.
Agree, AUDA would be wise to read grumpy.com.au, I think this is how most of the membership base feels.
Agreed in spades Paul!
I second Ned’s comments and thank all of our supporters for their support. We could not have done this without your support.
And now the work begins.
Congratulations to both of you! It was an emphatic victory, to say the least.
I’m extremely pleased that you and Nicole have been elected to the auDA Board.
Thanks Luke. 🙂
Great news Ned, congratulations & I’m looking forward to the positive changes ahead!
Good on you Troy!
You were just one of the new members that was disenfranchised from voting because auDA didn’t approve your membership in a timely fashion.
Ned and Nicole,
Heart-felt congratulations for your emphatic election to the auDA Board.
I have never seen such high numbers (98/95?) and the huge voter turnout certainly sends a message.
I wish you all the very best for the next two years. I know I am telling you something that you already know, but be prepared for an uphill struggle.
Listening to the AGM, I appreciated the new Chair’s ability to control and guide the meeting. It is a valuable skill.
But I was also concerned with certain moments where the tone went from guiding to borderline aggressive. For example, his response to Nicole’s question about membership delays (where he questioned her “tone”).
Be aware that this is what you can expect, and hopefully you will have reinforcements in 12 months!
Paul
Thanks Paul – the numbers were indeed a record!
They breed us tough in QLD, so we’re prepared. 😉
“But I was also concerned with certain moments where the tone went from guiding to borderline aggressive. For example, his response to Nicole’s question about membership delays (where he questioned her “tone”).”
Noted also in the room on a few other occasions including to some of Paul Shaw’s questions about Grant Wiltshire moving from being a Demand Board Member to a Supply Board Member.
….something for auDA and members to keep an eye on.
Congratulations to both of you being elected as demand class directors. Ned, you say:
“This is what we stood for:
• auDA should be a true membership organisation.
• Total transparency with all members and stakeholders. …”
Transparency, as most of us know, is an important precondition to good governance, performance and accountability to all members and stakeholders including the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and Parliament of Australia.
In this regard I note:
• The ‘Gold Standard’ for public governance, performance and accountability of all ‘Commonwealth entities’ is this legislation <https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2017C00269. (It has a history dating back to the 1980s. Key provisions had their genesis in the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997, Australian Telecommunications Corporations Act 1991 and 1988 Minister for Finance Guidelines).
• .auDA is not subject to this legislation.
• The Departmental inquiry into .au governance – initiated by the Minister for Communications – is considering the application of this legislation to auDA.
• A compelling case can be made for the application of this legislation to auDA.
Thanks Ian (in all respects).