"One day a rooster, the next day a feather duster!"
By TANYA PLIBERSEK | 7 August 2018
I understand Ross Gittins’ frustration at the continuing debate over school funding. But Labor will continue to fight against Malcolm Turnbull’s school cuts because many of the things that will help our school kids improve – such as more individual attention and excellent teaching – all cost money. If you care about our school kids doing better, you have to care about school funding. Continue reading “Tanya Plibersek’s letter Fairfax refused to publish “
By LAURIE PATTON | 7 August 2018
One of the many issues discussed last night at auDA‘s Membership Considerations Workshop was the appropriateness of people “hoarding” Internet domain names. For anyone unfamiliar with this practice, there are investors who buy what they believe are noteworthy domain names in the hope they can re-sell them later at a profit. They call themselves “domainers”.
At the heart of a debate over how the allocation of domain names should be managed is the influence the domainers have traditionally exercised, and clearly wish to continue to exercise. Continue reading “To have and to hold – The latest on auDA reform”
By LAURIE PATTON | 6 August 2018
As Christopher Pyne recently pointed out, Australia has roughly the same land mass as the United States yet a fraction of the population. Despite accommodating 300-plus million people only a handful of American cities are anywhere near the size of Sydney or Melbourne.
Government agencies all argue immigration creates economic growth. So it’s not about how many of us there are, it’s about where we all live.
Continue reading “Decentralisation is a solution to population growth”
By LAURIE PATTON | 30 July 2018
Telstra boss Andy Penn “took an axe to his management team” today. Those of us who’ve worked there but left in despair at its dysfunctional senior management will be watching to see if Andy succeeds where others have tried but failed to drag the organisation into the 21st Century. Continue reading “Is Telstra simply unmanageable right now?”
By LAURIE PATTON | 29 July 2018
Another week, another newspaper devotes thousands of words to the vexed question of population growth. The conclusion, once again, is that we need a more rational discussion – and, above all, a plan.
The way I see it, we keep asking the wrong question. It’s not about how many people live here, or where they come from. It’s about where we’ll all live.
By LAURIE PATTON | 28 Jul 2018
The proposition that there’s widespread member concern at the state of auDA – the company managing our Internet domain names – has been dealt a definitive blow.
Firstly, the vote at a Special General Meeting to decide the fate of three directors, including independent chair Chris Leptos, saw them retain their positions. Secondly, voter turnout was extremely low, suggesting most members are at least satisfied that long needed reform is progressing. Thirdly, the disruptive behaviour of a dissident group, appropriately known as the Grumpies, reinforced the view that they and their cause have no merit. Continue reading “Sticks and stones – Attempted coup at auDA flounders on disinterest”
By LAURIE PATTON | 26 July 2018
As I’ve previously written, tomorrow in Melbourne a Special General Meeting will determine the fate of three directors of auDA – the company managing our Internet domain names – including the independent chair Chris Leptos.
I recently published a Q&A with Cameron Boardman, the CEO of auDA, and subsequently a list of questions for the Grumpies – the small group of auDA members that called for the meeting. They have so far refused to answer their questions.
The additional information below has been supplied by auDA for its members and anyone else interested in the future of our domain names service.
By LAURIE PATTON | 25 July 2018
“The process of registering and administering Internet domain names under the .au top level domain must be managed with full integrity and transparency of process and decision-making to ensure this public resource supports the needs of all Internet users and stakeholders”.
This statement from Internet Australia chair, Dr Paul Brooks, sums up why a number of Internet industry players are speaking out against a board spill at a Special General Meeting of auDA – the company managing our Internet domain names – to be held in Melbourne on Friday. If you have a website you’ll have dealt with one of the companies that sell domain names to the public. They all operate under the authority and supervision of auDA.
Continue reading “Let’s meet, then please move on – Reforming auDA”
By AFILIAS | 22 July 2018
In today’s blog, we’re going to change from our usual tech and registry talk and look at the benefits of registering .au domain names for Australian businesses. Continue reading “Benefits of .au domain names for Australian businesses”
By LAURIE PATTON | 19 July 2018
We need to inject some ultimate responsibility into public administration. The buck has to stop somewhere.
What was recently perceived in some circles as two highly political appointments to plum roles in the federal public service highlights a need to re-examine government administration in the 21st Century. Not because these appointments were necessarily inappropriate, but because they exposed a basic disconnect.
We still like to pretend we have an olde-worlde apolitical public service consisting of career bureaucrats who have no political leanings and/or are never influenced by them. If this was ever the case, it is no longer.
Continue reading “Public servants, political appointments and good government”