auDA sponsorship of the Australasian Digital Cities Index

[PaulS]

As announced by auDA yesterday:
https://auda.org.au/blog/new-austra...x-will-rank-cities-for-digital-entrepreneurs/

OK, so - quick informal survey - who here, (many with a significant financial stake in the .au namespace) was aware of, or consulted on, this significant development? Can anyone tell me how much this is costing .au registrants?

No, I didn't think so.

 

[snoopy]

It is probably better than dodgy random grants, but yes auDA needs to come clean on how much money this sponsorship involves.

 

[PaulS]

Snoopy, I agree with you on many matters relating to auDA. But, of course, we will agree to disagree on some issues.

I was involved with the establishment of both the ANZIAs and the Australian IGF, two initiatives that the vast majority on this forum would call a massive waste of industry money. That is fine, I am willing to wear that on the chin and I'm happy to engage in a socialist vs capitalist debate about auDA's Constitutionally-defined role in engaging the Australian Internet community. But at least those two initiatives were controlled by auDA and we always tried to navigate a path close to auDA's core values and responsibilities.
Although not directly involved in the auDA Foundation, I can still confidently say that it was operated with the utmost probity and transparency. You can go back through the Minutes, the Foundation's financial records, and the list of recipients that benefited from funding and contributed in some way to the Australian community through the use of the Internet.
We will no-doubt disagree on whether the initiative was worthwhile but I can assure you that there was never anything dodgy nor random about it.

All of that said, I am surprised at the direction the current auDA regime has taken with regards to developing an Index for digital entrepreneurship (oh, and also becoming a national sponsor of the AIIA's iAward's) when their initial platform for reform was improving transparency, putting a stop to "profligate" spending and "graft".

I would still argue with you about the benefits or otherwise of previous initiatives but at least those were more transparent and folks on DNTrade and other fora could debate, complain, oppose, protest etc.

I am just asking where these recent partnerships came from and why there is no visibility to stakeholders on how much this costs. I am not hypocritical about previous auDA engagements, but I believe the current leadership is. /rant

 

[snoopy]

Although not directly involved in the auDA Foundation, I can still confidently say that it was operated with the utmost probity and transparency. You can go back through the Minutes, the Foundation's financial records, and the list of recipients that benefited from funding and contributed in some way to the Australian community through the use of the Internet.

That is quite different to what has been coming out of auDA.

What do you know about the PPB report?

 

[snoopy]

(oh, and also becoming a national sponsor of the AIIA's iAward's) when their initial platform for reform was improving transparency, putting a stop to "profligate" spending and "graft".

This is the first time I've heard about this one, certainly sounds like another waste of money.

 

[PaulS]

That is quite different to what has been coming out of auDA.

What do you know about the PPB report?

About as much as everyone else - zilch. A draft was developed while I was still at auDA but it has no-doubt changed considerably since.
If there is evidence in there that the Foundation was anything other than 100% legit (despite its Charter, reporting requirements, grant conditions and selection criteria) then I will eat humble pie and admit I was wrong.
But here's the rub. No one has seen the darned thing!
I would not even mind if I was mentioned in it as that would afford me a right-of-reply. But, instead, all we are getting is insinuations and rumours.

 

[Lemon]

I am just asking where these recent partnerships came from and why there is no visibility to stakeholders on how much this costs. I am not hypocritical about previous auDA engagements, but I believe the current leadership is. /rant

I think it is a good thing for auDA to be involved in the Australian digital landscape. There are plenty of complaints about them not promoting auDA and the .au namespace. The index for digital entrepreneurship will provide some interesting data. AIIA has a broad membership base and provides a good marketing opportunity.

As for where the partnership with AIIA came from it is fairly obvious how this came about.

 

[snoopy]

But here's the rub. No one has seen the darned thing!
I would not even mind if I was mentioned in it as that would afford me a right-of-reply. But, instead, all we are getting is insinuations and rumours.

I’m with you Paul, they need to release it.