Ms Jo Lim
Chief Policy Officer
AuDA
107 Faraday Street
Carlton  VIC  3053


Dear Ms Lim

I am writing on behalf of the ACT government in response to the 
Geographic 2LDs Discussion Paper published on the auDA website.

We note that the One City One Site (OCOS) Working party has 
already presented a response to the Discussion Paper, and the 
ACT supports the stance adopted by OCOS.  The ACT particularly 
opposes the lifting of restrictions on the use of geographic names 
in the net.au and com.au domains. 

The ACT is concerned that if the prohibition on the use of these 
names is lifted, then there will be a rush to register such names, 
potentially resulting in extensive legal disputes involving commercial, 
community and government organisations.  Further there will be 
continuing confusion between placename.statename.au and placename.com.au 
sites. 

If a commercial entity with an association with a placename wishes to 
register a net.au or com.au domain, it would be a simple matter of 
choosing a relevant name such as bondiconsulting.com.au or 
canberratourist.net.au.

Yours faithfully




Michael Vanderheide

Director
ACT Information Management