Internet Society of Australia
A Chapter of the Internet Society
ABN 36 076 406 801


auDA and Melbourne IT Reach Funding Agreement


Media Release
12 July 2000

INTERNET SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA
The Internet is for Everyone!

auDA and Melbourne IT Reach Funding Agreement

The Internet Society of Australia today congratulates the
.au Domain Administration and Melbourne IT on reaching an
agreement whereby Melbourne IT commits $659,000 towards
auDA's 2000/2001 budget.

Dr Kate Lance, president of ISOC-AU commented, "The funding 
agreement, which follows previous agreements with net.au,
asn.au, csiro.au and gov.au, allows auDA to execute it's
charter in a financially sound manner."

"auDA is a key plank in the government's approach of 
self-regulation of the Internet space, and clearly
the participation all key stakeholders is key to the
development of sound policy."

"We congratulate the government on their role in
facilitating this process, and encourage them to 
continue this effort by assisting in the formal transfer
of the .au delegation to auDA."

Today's agreement represents the culmination of months
and years of effort on the part of unpaid volunteers.

"The challenge ahead for auDA is to create a sound,
equitable and transparent model of competition for the
.au subdomains.  Complex issues such as the definition
and role of 'registry' and 'registrar' remain.  It is
to be hoped that the Competition Panel is the crucible
in which consensus on these issues can be achieved,"
Dr Kate Lance said.

auDA is currently inviting nominations to the Competition
Panel.  Nominations close on 19 July.  More information
on the auDA Competition Panel is at:
http://www.auda.org.au/panel/competition/

Contact:
Mr Leni Mayo,  0418 377 937, media@isoc-au.org.au

INTERNET SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA
The Internet is for Everyone
http://www.isoc-au.org.au