About auDA
.au Domain Administration Ltd (auDA) is the administrator and self-regulatory policy body for the .au ccTLD.
In December 2000, the Australian Government formally endorsed auDA 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.
In its 2017/2018 review of auDA the Australian Government issued a new, modernised terms of endorsement.
In October 2001, ICANN recognised auDA as the suitable operator for .au under a Sponsorship Agreement.
As part of that sponsorship agreement auDA is responsible for the management of the .au zone file, ensuring it is accurate, up to date and continuously available. auDA achieves this through the technical management of the primary and (multiple) secondary name servers that make up part of the .au Domain Name System infrastructure.
auDA oversees and deploys new technologies and initiatives in the .au name space, which includes:
Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC)
auDA Information Security Standard (ISS) (auDA is ISS compliant)
Role of auDA
auDA performs the following functions:
- develop and implement domain name policy
- license 2LD registry operators
- accredit and license registrars
- implement consumer safeguards
- facilitate .au Dispute Resolution Policy
- represent .au at ICANN and other international fora
- technical management of the .au zone file
- manage and maintain a secure and stable Domain Name System
Australian Government Terms of Endorsement
Download:.au Domain Administration Terms of Endorsement (April 2018)
(auDA's original terms of endorsement from December 2000 can be found here)