The Australian Government has published the new Terms of Endorsement for auDA following a review process which included a public consultation.
auDA is an independent, not-for-profit organisation responsible for the policy and administration of the .au domain (all websites ending in ".au").
The updates to the 2025 Terms of Endorsement bring it into line with the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy and Internet Governance Principles and include:
- bolstering support for the multi-stakeholder management of the Internet including in the Asia-Pacific region
- continuing auDA's important domestic multi-stakeholder management engagement
- referencing relevant legal obligations under the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018
- adding adoption of international standards for information security and business continuity
- including the need to stay abreast of future key developments that could affect the security, integrity and resilience of .au
- making auDA's responsibilities clearer in the unlikely event that a timely re-delegation is needed
- setting baseline conduct and transparency expectations.
The Terms of Endorsement were last updated in November 2021. The Australian Government conducts a regular review process of the Terms of Endorsement to ensure the administration of the .au domain continues to be managed effectively.
The 2024-2025 Review included a 4-week public consultation process, and interested parties were invited to make a submission via the department's website. Public submissions have now been published to the Have your say page.
The new terms mean auDA and the government will be well placed to support an open, free, secure and interoperable global Internet in the interests of all Australians.
