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.au Licensing Rules Review (2025)

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auDA periodically reviews the .au Domain Administration Rules: Licensing (.au Licensing Rules) so they reflect community expectations and remain effective over time. 

In September 2025, the auDA Board approved an external Policy Advisory Panel to undertake a multi stakeholder review of the .au Licensing Rules over 2025-26. Following an initial phase of consultation between September 2025 and March 2026 (phase 1), the Panel sought public feedback on its Draft Report, which outlined recommendations for proposed changes to the .au Licensing Rules (phase 2).Phase 2 consultation took place between 4 June and 10 July 2026. You can see details of consultation engagement activities below.

The Policy Advisory Panel has completed public consultation on the .au Licensing Rules and will provide its final report to the auDA Board in August 2026.

Issues Paper

As part of the Review, auDA conducted public consultation to understand key issues related to the .au Licensing Rules. Learn more about the key issues identified.

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.au Licensing Rules Review (2025) - Issues Paper (condensed)

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.au Licensing Rules Review (2025) – Issues Paper

Draft Report

Following phase 1 consultation, the Panel published a report with draft recommendations for further public consultation.

Download

Summary recommendations: .au Licensing Rules Review (2025) Draft Report

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.au Licensing Rules Review 2025 Policy Advisory Panel Draft Report

Phase 1 and 2 public consultation

View phase 1 and phase 2 online consultation and find engagement activity information below.

See Phase 1 consultation
See Phase 2 consultation

Completed engagement activities

Background

In September 2025, the auDA Board approved the Panel to carry out the review over 2025-26.

The Panel will undertake extensive public consultation in late 2025 and early 2026 before making recommendations to the auDA Board on any proposed changes to the .au Licensing Rules by mid-2026. The Policy Review Panel will operate in accordance with its Terms of Reference.

The Panel comprises:

  1. Matt Healy (Chair)
  2. Dr Selvi Kannan
  3. Anthony Peake
  4. Erhan Karabardak
  5. Ian Kelly
  6. Ross Creelman
  7. Niluka Welungoda.

The scope of the review is set out in the Terms of Reference, which lists key issues that have been identified. The Panel may consider other issues as raised by the public during consultations.

The Policy Advisory Panel will undertake a multi-stakeholder consultation process to inform its recommendations to the auDA Board on proposed changes to the .au Licensing Rules.

A multi-stakeholder approach that includes in-person and virtual consultation will facilitate meaningful and diverse stakeholder contributions. Following an initial program of public consultation the Panel will develop a draft report for further feedback from the public.

The Panel will liaise with consumer protection groups to ensure the consumer perspective and relevant Government departments and agencies to ensure their perspectives are represented.

The Panel is committed to accountability and transparency in its operations and will publish its meeting agendas and minutes, and notes from stakeholder meetings to this webpage.

The review will be undertaken in accordance with the Process for the Development and Review of auDA Published Policies.

Questions?

Any questions or written submissions to the Panel can be directed to rulesreview25@auda.org.au.

Panel documents

Please see the October 2025 to August 2026 Board minutes for summaries of the LRRP Chair’s Report to the Board.

Agendas and Minutes

  

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