auDA considers new second-level domains

auDA, the administrator for Australia's country-code top-level domain, has issued a public call for proposals for new second-level domains to be added to the six existing domains - '.com.au', '.net.au', '.gov.au', '.edu.au', '.org.au' and '.id.au'. The idea is to increase the availability of more appropriate domains from which prospective registrants may choose.

The proposal follows recommendations made last year by the auDA Name Policy Advisory Panel, which suggested that the types of domain include those that relate to particular community groups (eg, '.law.au' for lawyers) or, alternatively, the new domains correspond to those recently introduced by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (eg, '.biz.au').

The closing date for submissions to auDA is June 14. The proposals will be assessed by the New Names Advisory Panel, which will then provide auDA with recommendations.

Effie Markopoulos, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Melbourne