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Branch stacking!

snoopy

Top Contributor

A very similar style of risk. National security. auDA had potentially opened Pandoras box by allowing hundreds of overseas members to join (if the rumours are true).

What happens when 1000 people join with Chinese address who aren't related to auDA board members/supply class? What will be the argument be for saying no? "These aren't "our" Chinese members" ?

The government should be watching very closely in my view as if the claims are true that they've signed up hundreds of members are not Australian then what they are doing is not in the interests of the Australian internet community.
 

DomainNames

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DomainNames

Top Contributor
https://www.dntrade.com.au/threads/...ncerned-about-auda-stacking.11863/#post-92329

There was a widespread view within the department that auDA had been “subject to capture” and “membership stacking” by vested interests.”

https://www.cio.com.au/article/640272/govt-demands-sweeping-reforms-auda/

"Interviews with auDA members past and present revealed issues around ‘board stacking’ – the manipulation of the process to appoint directors “to act in the interest of a particular membership faction”.
_____________________________
"The Board noted the unusually high number of membership applications received since the last Board meeting. It was agreed that issues regarding the potential for membership stacking and capture are a matter for the Risk Committee to review and report to the Board in due course."

"recommend possible amendments to the Constitution that would help to prevent membership stacking in future, with any amendments to be put to members at the AGM."

"The board noted that there have been other attempts in the past to stack the membership of auDA prior to a board election. It was suggested that auDA should amend the Constitution and/or the membership approval process to minimise the risk of membership stacking in future."
"When considering policy matters that may liberalise the .au namespace there are obvious conflicts of interest that can arise, particularly within the Supply class.

The situation is worsened by auDA’s relatively small membership base, which has approximately 250 Demand class members and only approximately 50 Supply class members. Once again, this greatly increases the chance of capture. For example, a Supply class stakeholder may operate 4 or 5 “Resellers” of .au names and could register each as a member – for only $110 per year each. Anecdotal evidence already shows that some degree of “branch stacking” has happened in this way, in the past.

There is also a lack of clarity about the boundaries of each class and has resulted in the transition of auDA Directors from representing one class to another (most recently at the 2017 AGM)."

https://www.communications.gov.au/s...paul_szyndler_auda_submission_pdf_publish.pdf


_________________________________________

STACKING auDA MEMBERSHIP AND BOARD.
"https://www.auda.org.au/about-auda/our-org/board-meetings/2007/070416/

"9. Constitutional Review

The board discussed a paper drafted by CN outlining possible changes to the auDA Constitution to address three issues:

1. potential supply side capture of demand class

2. supply related person standing as a demand class director

3. related entities holding multiple supply class memberships.

The board affirmed the need to ensure that the Constitution is effective and achieves auDA’s objectives. The board also noted the importance of achieving a fair and reasonable balance between supply and demand, obesrving that there will always be a tendency for demand class to be under-represented.

The board agreed changes to address issues 2 and 3 above, as proposed in paras 4.2, 4.4 and 4.5 of the board paper. It was decided that the change proposed in para 4.3 of the board paper to address issue 1 may not be effective, and further consideration should be given to options for increasing demand class membership and making it more representative.

Motion (proposed JR, seconded Julie H): That the proposed new definition of ‘Supply Related Person’ and proposed amendments to clauses 9.4 and 18.3 be put to members at an EGM. Carried unanimously.

Action: The board to set up a sub-committee to consider demand class membership issues."
 

snoopy

Top Contributor
Adrian Kinderis has voiced his opinion on the branch stacking,

auDA doesn’t care that they are stacking the Board. To them it shows the government that the system is broken and they can come up with something else.

Expect the AGM to allow the current regime to instate a Board that gives them carte blanche to spend all that new cash any way they like #slushfund

https://memberportal.auda.org.au/t/branch-stacking/229
 

DomainNames

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snoopy

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auDA phoned up some real Australian long time domain name industry demand people yesterday checking the legitimacy of their family memberships to auDA.

Amazing this stacking and rigging is not stopping.

I was made aware the other day of someone who joined months ago, paid and has nothing back from auDA despite chasing them up on it.
 

DomainNames

Top Contributor
Here is the current Australian auDA Management team

https://www.auda.org.au/about-auda/our-org/board/
auDA Board
About the auDA Board
The auDA Board is constituted as per Section 18 of the auDA Constitution. The Board is made up of four (4) directors elected by Supply Class Members; four (4) directors elected by Demand Class Members; the auDA CEO (as a non-voting member of the Board); and up to three (3) Independent Directors appointed by the Elected Directors.

Current Directors
Name and Class

Term

Chris Leptos AM
Chair
Independent

11/2017 – 11/2019

Erhan Karabardak
(Domo Digital)
Supply Class

28/11/2016 - 2018 AGM

Tim Connell
Demand Class

28/11/2016 - 2018 AGM

James Deck
(1300WebPro)
Supply Class

27/11/2017 - 2019 AGM

Suzanne Ewart
Independent

11/2017 – 11/2019

Sandra Hook
Independent

19/04/2017 - 19/04/2019

Joe Manariti
(SWiM Communications)
Supply Class

28/11/2016 - 2018 AGM

Grant Wiltshire
Supply Class

27/11/2017 - 2019 AGM

Holly Raiche
Demand Class

12/05/2018 - 2019 AGM

Damian Smith
Demand Class

12/05/2018 - 2018 AGM

Nigel Phair
Demand Class

12/05/2018 - 2019 AGM


Board Committees

The Board has established the following standing committees:

Security and Risk Committee
  • Suzie Ewart (Chair)
  • Joe Manariti
  • James Deck
Governance Committee
  • Sandra Hook (Chair)
  • Tim Connell
  • Erhan Karabardak
  • Grant Wiltshire
Chairman’s Committee (Incorporating Finance and Audit)
  • Chris Leptos (Chair)
  • Sandra Hook
  • Suzie Ewart
 

DomainNames

Top Contributor
SHAMEFUL membership and Vote rigging and a disgrace to Australia and the global domain name Industry.

Current auDA Management and Board are "Not Fit for Purpose" and have brought the whole industry into disrepute globally.

www.Grumpier.com.au
Resolution 1 – Vote of no confidence in Cameron Boardman (CEO) VOTE YES

Resolution 2 – Removal of Chris Leptos as a Director VOTE YES

Resolution 3 – Removal of Sandra Hook as a Director VOTE YES

Resolution 4 – Removal of Suzanne Ewart as a Director VOTE YES


 

snoopy

Top Contributor
I was made aware the other day of someone who joined months ago, paid and has nothing back from auDA despite chasing them up on it.

Just communicated with this person again and looks like it isn't due for approval until the next board meeting as they just missed the last.
 

snoopy

Top Contributor
auDA still have not updated the membership list despite requests for it to be updated. They even have the gall to claim the list is up to date as of last Wednesday (4th of July),

Screen Shot 2018-07-09 at 4.08.59 pm.png
 

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