https://www.dntrade.com.au/threads/...ncerned-about-auda-stacking.11863/#post-92329
“There was a widespread view within the department that auDA had been “subject to capture” and “membership stacking” by vested interests.”
https://www.cio.com.au/article/640272/govt-demands-sweeping-reforms-auda/
"Interviews with auDA members past and present revealed issues around ‘board stacking’ – the manipulation of the process to appoint directors “to act in the interest of a particular membership faction”.
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"The Board noted the unusually high number of membership applications received since the last Board meeting. It was agreed that issues regarding the potential for
membership stacking and capture are a matter for the Risk Committee to review and report to the Board in due course."
"recommend possible amendments to the Constitution that would help to prevent
membership stacking in future, with any amendments to be put to members at the AGM."
"The board noted that there have been other attempts in the past to
stack the membership of auDA prior to a board election. It was suggested that auDA should amend the Constitution and/or the membership approval process to minimise the risk of
membership stacking in future."
"When considering policy matters that may liberalise the .au namespace there are obvious conflicts of interest that can arise, particularly within the Supply class.
The situation is worsened by auDA’s relatively small membership base, which has approximately 250 Demand class members and only approximately 50 Supply class members. Once again, this greatly increases the chance of capture. For example, a Supply class stakeholder may operate 4 or 5 “Resellers” of .au names and could register each as a member – for only $110 per year each. Anecdotal evidence already shows that some degree of “branch stacking” has happened in this way, in the past.
There is also a lack of clarity about the boundaries of each class and has resulted in the transition of auDA Directors from representing one class to another (most recently at the 2017 AGM)."
https://www.communications.gov.au/s...paul_szyndler_auda_submission_pdf_publish.pdf
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STACKING auDA MEMBERSHIP AND BOARD.
"https://www.auda.org.au/about-auda/our-org/board-meetings/2007/070416/
"9. Constitutional Review
The board discussed a paper drafted by CN outlining possible changes to the auDA Constitution to address three issues:
1. potential supply side capture of demand class
2. supply related person standing as a demand class director
3. related entities holding multiple supply class memberships.
The board affirmed the need to ensure that the Constitution is effective and achieves auDA’s objectives. The board also noted the importance of achieving a fair and reasonable balance between supply and demand, obesrving that there will always be a tendency for demand class to be under-represented.
The board agreed changes to address issues 2 and 3 above, as proposed in paras 4.2, 4.4 and 4.5 of the board paper. It was decided that the change proposed in para 4.3 of the board paper to address issue 1 may not be effective, and further consideration should be given to options for increasing demand class membership and making it more representative.
Motion (proposed JR, seconded Julie H): That the proposed new definition of ‘Supply Related Person’ and proposed amendments to clauses 9.4 and 18.3 be put to members at an EGM. Carried unanimously.
Action: The board to set up a sub-committee to consider demand class membership issues."