Quoth
http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/media/media_releases/proposed_.au_internet_domain_review :

   078/06
   14 August 2006

                    Proposed .au Internet Domain Review

   The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts,
   Senator Helen Coonan, today announced a review into the policy,
   administrative and regulatory arrangements that underpin the operation
   of the .au Internet domain.

   "The .au domain has been operating under an industry self-regulatory
   model for over five years. In that time the Internet has grown
   significantly in both economic and social importance to Australians,"
   Senator Coonan said.

   "As with any self-regulatory model, it is appropriate to conduct a
   periodic review to ensure policy goals continue to be met and .au
   continues to be administered efficiently, effectively and in the best
   interests of all Australian Internet users.

   "The review will be conducted by my department and will consider a
   range of matters related to .au as recommended in the April 2006
   Report of the Taskforce on Reducing Regulatory Burdens on Business
   (Banks Taskforce).

   The review will specifically consider competitiveness, cost
   effectiveness, consumer protection aspects of domain name arrangements
   in .au domain, security and stability arrangements within .au domain,
   emerging Internet issues, technical standards and the global policy
   environment.

   "I am currently considering the terms of reference for the review and
   will announce them shortly", Senator Coonan said.

   "The views of the current domain operator, .au Domain Administration
   Ltd (auDA), together with domain name registrars/resellers and
   Internet users, will be an important input to the review."

   auDA is a not-for-profit body which the Australian Government endorsed
   in December 2000 as the appropriate body to administer the .au domain
   space. The Government holds reserve powers in relation to domain names
   under the Telecommunications Act 1997.

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