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Government moves on auDA.

Lemon

Top Contributor
I do not think we need any more academics or people without real domain name industry experience or any more "jobs for the boys" political job and board stacking.
You obviously did not read the government review.

Government has another list of over 50 items of serious concern. The 29 is just the start to get auDA some focus and serious warning.
Sean get with the program. The Government did the first review in 17 years do you think if they had 50 more serious concerns they would have not put them in their response.
You have been calling for the government to step in for a year. Now they have so get with the program.

Ian sorry but the fact is you achieved not being voted in for yourself due to comments and positions you took the majority of members did not support with votes.
My position has not changed.
If you think auDA members represent the views of the Australian community then you are kidding yourself.
What happened to your 198 "most votes ever". ? Where are your representatives now?
Why are you no longer on the CRC? You had the opportunity to make change yet you are no longer there.
 

DomainNames

Top Contributor
Why don't you keep posting links to the same content. The only one that counts is
https://www.communications.gov.au/departmental-news/au-domain-review-released

Actually the public media and concern counts too... something auDA and some Directors past and present simply fail to understand...and why they get removed eventually or don't get voted in again.

That https://www.communications.gov.au/departmental-news/au-domain-review-released is the public palatable tip of the iceberg as far as Government is concerned...

Anyway lets see what happens at the SGM and with www.Grumpier.com.au
"Key issues for members include:
Direct Registration
Some people are for direct .au domain name registration, and some are against. Then there are the multitudes of registrants that wouldn’t even know it is on the horizon, because auDA hasn’t directly told them of the possibility; and how and why it would work if it was implemented.
  • Why have all .au registrants not been contacted – as promised by auDA CEO Cameron Boardman, over something so important?
  • Where is the business case promised by auDA CEO Cameron Boardman to show the quantitative benefits?
  • The independent Policy Review Panel established by auDA now appears fatally flawed. Any previous auDA administration would have made sure there was proper representation from all stakeholders, but now there are only 4 people and a Chair left to decide on such an important issue. The latest casualty is the departure of the ACCC panel representative.
  • The lack of a peak business body representative on the panel is fatal. As are the personal opinions of one particular member of the panel who seems to be allowed to denigrate people with impugnity. Why does auDA and John Swinson (Chair of the PRP) allow that to happen?
  • Why is a “lottery” being proposed to break a conflict? Particularly when 89% of domain holders have com.au?
  • Proposed changes to existing policies seem to be going backwards. Why?
  • auDA Chair, Chris Leptos AM, has stated there will be “winners and losers”. This vernacular wreaks of a bullish ASX listed company, not a self-regulatory body whose role is to properly manage and administer the critical national infrastructure of the .au domain name space for the benefit of the Australian community. Why should there be losers? Why should auDA be run as an ASX style company?
Communication and Transparency
  • Since the July 2017 SGM, no lessons have been learnt – auDA continues to exhibit poor communication. There is a lack of transparency about what is actually happening, and board minutes for the latter part of 2017 were only posted recently. That is a 5 month delay.
  • The restructuring proposal of auDA put to Government had no member consultation, including auDA’s own Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) which was set up and then abandoned.
  • Speaking of the CRC, why has this not been re-constituted? The auDA Constitution is old and tired, and needs to reflect current realities.
  • Elected Directors are effectively muzzled from talking effectively and meaningfully to the Members that voted for them.
  • Is there a “whispering campaign” in place to discredit some past staff and management? There are certainly lots of rumours floating around about PPB forensic reports and possible financial irregularities. If these have any substance, these should be disclosed to Members and the parties concerned. If this doesn’t happen soon, that is totally unfair, as it creates undue stress and reputational damage. What other organisation would carry on like this?
  • What is the extent of the legal fees and settlement agreements that auDA has incurred over the past two years? Members have a right to know.
Good Governance
  • Why has the auDA board allowed Demand Class members to be under-represented since November 2017? That’s contrary to the auDA Constitution.
  • Staff and Director attrition has continued to be mind boggling since the previous SGM for such a small organisation. For instance, why did Di Parker leave as auDA Corporate Secretary? Why did Simon Johnson suddenly resign as a Director last November?
  • Have friends or previous colleagues of the CEO been appointed to plum positions within the organisation? If so, were these positions first advertised?
  • The long standing Registry Operator is about to be replaced, but what real benefit will flow to registrars or registrants? By some reports, the wholesale price has decreased by around 60%, but registrars apparently are only going to get around a 10% discount. If true, this seems a pittance – what happens to the balance? Many people think this is no more than a cash grab by auDA. Why did they do it this way? Could it be deemed as a “double cash grab” if direct registrations are approved?
  • New independent director Suzanne Ewart has been made chair of the auDA board Security and Risk sub-committee. What relevant experience does she have in this most important discipline?
  • Sandra Hook is the longest serving Independent, but what has she done about any of the above? What relevant domain industry experience does she have?
  • Does all of this indicate a potentially systemic problem for our Membership organisation? This is all happening on their watch.
  • We believe there needs to be some positive and effective change – which is why we are proposing the following resolutions:
Resolution 1 – Vote of no confidence in Cameron Boardman (CEO)
Resolution 2 – Removal of Chris Leptos as a Director
Resolution 3 – Removal of Sandra Hook as a Director
Resolution 4 – Removal of Suzanne Ewart as a Director "
 
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Lemon

Top Contributor
Actually the public media and concern counts too... something auDA and some Directors past and present simply fail to understand...
Every article is the same they are all just commenting on the government review. none of them have an opinion except David Goldstein.
 

DomainNames

Top Contributor
In fact most of them are syndicated content.
Ian says ....nothing to see..

I didn't realise the new member sign up as 'dogs' dogs.com.au was related to you also until I checked that great website from the member signature and remembered I bought a good generic name off you many years ago .. You do have some great generic .com.au names I heard you invested $millions on at the auDA PRP in Melbourne if I heard right .. I'm waiting for access to the official auDA PRP audio I've applied for). We may even find some common ground one day.
Dogs.com.au is a great site, love the Virtual Animal house logo.
 
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snoopy

Top Contributor
Sean.
Don't lecture me on the Grumpy campaign.
I was there and I called for change.
And what happened you all ****ed me over.

Very few people are going to support your calls for .au to be brought in. You’d have done better running in supply.
 

snoopy

Top Contributor
More from Chris Disspain,

Following the publication of this report, I’d also like to say that I am proud of having built and led a stable and accountable multi-stakeholder organisation over 16 years with an extraordinarily effective small team of people who were totally committed to doing their best for the .au ccTLD.

I hope that the fulfilment of the government’s requirements will lead to auDA returning to the stable, open, transparent and accountable entity that the Australian internet community deserves to have running its country code.

http://domainincite.com/22895-gover...ampaign=Feed:+DomainIncite+(DomainIncite.com)
 

Jimboot

Top Contributor
In fact most of them are syndicated content.
"In fact" they are not.
https://www.itwire.com/strategy/82377-some-auda-members-call-for-ceo,-3-directors-to-step-down.html
https://www.cio.com.au/article/635939/update-auda-mutiny-movement-has-numbers-needed/
http://www.powerretail.com.au/news/...terests-of-the-australian-internet-community/
https://mumbrella.com.au/australian...members-push-to-fire-ceo-and-directors-510019
https://www.technologydecisions.com...auda-members-call-for-ceo-to-resign-287487957
https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/635939/update-auda-mutiny-movement-has-numbers-needed/
https://internetretailing.com.au/members-warn-online-catastrophe-domain-shake/
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/04/11/angry_aussies_call_for_ouster_of_au_execs/
https://www.smartcompany.com.au/tec...al-meeting-government-inquiry-report-pending/
http://www.domainpulse.com/2018/04/12/auda-bullying-fear-silence-critics/
https://www.computerworld.com.au/article/636081/auda-calls-cops-former-directors/
https://www.itwire.com/strategy/82413-auda-chair-says-ex-directors-referred-to-vic-police.html
https://www.theage.com.au/business/...e-spending-at-web-agency-20180416-p4z9yd.html
https://www.cio.com.au/article/640242/former-director-took-family-disneyland-auda-dollar/
https://www.theage.com.au/technolog...-government-review-finds-20180417-p4za3u.html
https://www.smartcompany.com.au/tec...in-registration-body-auda-overhaul-processes/
https://www.cio.com.au/article/640272/govt-demands-sweeping-reforms-auda/
https://www.itwire.com/strategy/82468-au-change-put-off-govt-orders-auda-to-meet-review-terms.html
http://www.afr.com/technology/gover...-auda-after-expenses-concerns-20180418-h0ywxc
https://mumbrella.com.au/australian-top-level-domain-plan-stalls-as-512024
https://www.insideretail.com.au/blog/2018/04/18/government-to-oversee-reforms-to-peak-domain-body/
 

Lemon

Top Contributor
Yes lots of commentary in the media reporting the same thing.
1. SGM.
2. Excessive spending.
3. Government review released.

Now that the Government review has come out which demands changes to auDA will you continue with the SGM and to what purpose.
Reading your Key Issues on grumpier most of them now seem moot points.
 

snoopy

Top Contributor
Now that the Government review has come out which demands changes to auDA will you continue with the SGM and to what purpose.
Reading your Key Issues on grumpier most of them now seem moot points.

None of them have been properly addressed.
  • What is happening with the .AU proposal, is it scrapped or not?
  • Is auDA still planning to not pass on the full saving from the registry tender?
  • Why are auDA and PRP minutes still being delayed?
  • Why is the whisper campaign still continuing? It seems to have morphed into leaks.
  • How much has auDA spent on legal settlements?
  • Why has the board stalled on demand director appointments?
  • Why did Simon Johnson leave?
  • What have independent directors done to address auDA problems, what industry knowledge do they have?
  • What is auDA planning to do about PRP appointments that many see as inappropriate and/or non representative?
 

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