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gov.au Policy and Governance Framework

The gov.au Policy and Governance Framework applies to all gov.au domain names:

  1. The gov.au Domain Name Policies (the gov.au policies) apply to third level domains at the Australian Government level (e.g. example.gov.au) and fourth level domains at the State/Territory/Local Government levels (e.g. example.act.gov.au).
  2. Gov.au policies have been developed to facilitate the registration and administration of domain names used by Australian, State, Territory and Local Government jurisdictions.
  3. Gov.au policies are formally reviewed every 2 years.
  4. The Australian Government Department of Finance holds a sub-sponsorship agreement with .au Domain Administration (auDA), the industry self-regulatory body, for management of the gov.au domain.
  5. The Department of Finance manages the gov.au policies and administration in consultation with an inter-jurisdictional Domain Consultative Committee comprising of representatives from each jurisdiction.
  6. All new policies and major policy changes were endorsed by the former Online and Communications Council. Membership of the Online and Communications Council comprised the Australian Government Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Chair), a senior Minister from each State and Territory and the President of the Australian Local Government Association.
  7. Each jurisdiction may apply additional domain policies, standards and guidelines in assessing domain applications.
  8. A single agency in each jurisdiction, known as the Domain Provider, has the delegated authority to assess individual domain name applications for that jurisdiction. A list of Domain Providers, and relevant contacts, is available at www.domainname.gov.au/contact-us.
  9. Domain Providers:
    a. reserve the right to remove a gov.au domain name from the registry if it is considered to be in breach of gov.au policies or the gov.au Registrant Agreement; and

    b. reserve the right to reject an application for a domain name.

Within this framework, the following policies apply:

  • gov.au Eligibility and Allocation Policy
  • gov.au Dispute Resolution Policy
  • Application of auDA Policy

For more information, see the domainname.gov.au website.

Capabilities

This standard supports digital solutions in the following capability.
CAP28

Hosting

Policies

This standard assists in meeting the requirements of the following policies.
POL25

Hosting policy

Designs

The following designs show how to achieve the intent of this standard.
The gov.au domain administration system provides a framework, policies, and guidance on eligibility and allocation of gov.au domain names, how applications for domain names are assessed, the use of non-gov.au domain names and exemptions.
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