From: Damien - eCityGuide.com.au 
Sent: Friday, 30 July 2004 2:22 AM
To: jo.lim@auda.org.au
Subject: Geographic names restriction
Hello Jo,

I think the restriction on geographic names in com.au and net.au should 
be removed, but the register must put the domain to good use, ie 
ballarat.com.au would have to contain information relevant to Ballarat, 
Victoria. I can't think of a reason why geographic names would need to 
be restricted, city/town councils use the <state>.gov.au domain extension.

Until now I was un-aware that geographic names were restricted, but I see 
some names such as melbourne.com.au and bendigo.com.au are registered??

Kind Regards,
Damien Irving


From: Damien - eCityGuide.com.au 
Sent: Friday, 30 July 2004 3:12 AM
To: jo.lim@auda.org.au
Subject: Geographic names (again)

Hello again Jo,

Some are concerned that geographic .com.au and .net.au domain names may be 
in-appropriately used.
I think there should be restrictions to what these domain names can be used 
for. As I put in my last email, bendigo.com.au should have to contain 
information relevant to Bendigo (tourism, local information etc....)

I think websites such as mine that provide all-round information to the locals, 
visitors and businesses of a city such as Bendigo would be a very appropriate 
use of a domain name such as bendigo.com.au. 


David W James' wrote...

"I wish to advise you that I am satisfied with the current procedure because 
it stems commercial greed. If the review recommends that these be released 
then I believe they should then be released to local government agencies 
(e.g. councils), chambers of commerce or progress associations."

As I understand, .com.au and .net.au are for commercial purposes and .gov.au 
is for government (e.g. councils).
Most councils have a <council>.<state>.gov.au domain name, if auDA was to 
release geographic names (.com/.net,au - commercial) to councils, these 
domains would simply be used to redirect to the current council domain. I 
think that would be a big waste of a good domain. Commercial domain names 
(.com.au and .net.au) should be for commercial purposes.


Kind Regards,
Damien Irving