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Embattled Australian Domain Authority CEO labels critics hypocrites

Embattled CEO of the Australian Domain Authority, AuDA, Cameron Broadman has labelled critics ‘hypocrites’ as the organisation battles claims it is no longer fit to regulate the nation’s internet infrastructure.

Speaking at a media conference yesterday, Broadman said the organisation had attempted to reach out to critics of its top level domain plans but had been rebuffed.


“We found ourselves in this perpetual cycle of very disappointingly around some of these people, the more we tried outreach and get them involved in what should have been a constructive, consultative process they didn’t want to be involved in there. It was a little bit hypocritical,” Broadman said.

“If you want to have a direct say in the future of an organisation, then you have to have a willingness to participate.

“Communications are a challenge for any organisation, I find the concept of not allowing consultative mechanisms to be quite farcical really,” Broadman said, adding he had personally approached critics to join the AuDA’s advisory committees.

“Sadly those who are actually providing the criticism around there not being any consultation did not put their names forward to participate. Worse than that, they actually haven’t even participated in the consultative process around the policy or reform process.”

Broadman though agreed with the Federal minister Mitch Fifield’s view that AuDA’s constitution and role in the Australian internet industry needs to be re-examined.

“We have a constitutional framework that was designed 18 years ago and there’s been very little reform since. If you think about a few factors that are very relevant to this industry and the entire digital industry,” he said.

“When this constitution was written there was no social media, mobility and apps were in their infancy. The constitution was written shortly after the Corporations Act had just been enacted.”

Broadman also rejected claims his position was in jeopardy, saying: “I enjoy the full confidence of the board

“I’m proud to have the full confidence of the board and I will absolutely continue to serve while that is the case.”

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