Domain names

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a global database that underpins the operation of the Internet by translating website names (such as infrastructure.gov.au) into computer-readable Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.

The not-for-profit .au Domain Administration (auDA) oversees the operation and management of the .au portion of the DNS. auDA is an independent body endorsed by the Australian Government as the appropriate entity to administer Australia's country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD)—the .au domain—on behalf of Australian Internet users.

The department participate in international groups to advocate for Australia's interests regarding the Internet, including the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which coordinates DNS and IP address policy at a global level. ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) advises ICANN on Internet-related public policy matters. The department represent the Australian Government on the GAC, advocating for Australia's interests and working with other stakeholders to make sure the Internet remains open, free, secure and interoperable.

auDA's Terms of Endorsement

auDA has been endorsed as the .au ccTLD manager since 2000. auDA's current Terms of Endorsement provide the Australian Government's formal endorsement of auDA, which is subject to auDA's compliance with the government's expectations.

The Terms of Endorsement are routinely reviewed to ensure they remain fit for purpose. The Terms were last reviewed in early 2025.

auDA develops and implements .au domain policies and allocates (or licences) .au domain names to users who meet its eligibility criteria.

While auDA is solely responsible for making policy on .au domain matters, it is required to adhere to multi-stakeholder governance principles and consult widely with government and the community prior to making decisions.

In addition to the conditions in the Terms of Endorsement, the Australian Government has some legislative powers relating to the .au ccTLD, located in:

2025 Review of the Terms of Endorsement for auDA

The public consultation to support the 2025 Review is now completed.

Submissions closed 9am on Wednesday 19 February 2025. A report on the review and its outcome is at the public consultation page.

As a result of the 2025 Review, the Terms of Endorsement for auDA have been refreshed to ensure Australia continues to be well-placed to support an open, free, secure and interoperable global Internet in line with our Internet Governance Principles and 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy. The amended Terms are below:

Previous reviews of the Terms of Endorsement for auDA

Over 2017 and 2018, the former Department of Communications and the Arts undertook a review of auDA's governance arrangements. More information about this review can be found on the 2018 Review of the .au Domain Administration page.

The Terms of Endorsement were again reviewed in 2021 and this included a public consultation process. Documents related to the 2021 review are available below:

Board Observer role

The department, representing the Australian Government, sits as a non-voting observer at auDA Board meetings. Details of the arrangement can be found in:

Nominations Committee

Consistent with the 2018 Review, a Nominations Committee comprising representatives from industry, business, consumers and the department, representing the Australian Government, was established to reconstitute auDA's Board.

The Nominations Committee was appointed on 16 May 2019. For more information, see:

Other Australian ccTLDs

For historical reasons, a number of Australia's external territories have also been allocated their own ccTLDs. These are:

  • Cocos Keeling Islands (.cc)
  • Christmas Island (.cx)
  • Norfolk Island (.nf)
  • Heard and McDonald Islands (.hm).

Each of these ccTLDs is operated by a different domain manager and has different governance arrangements. The Australian Government works with the domain managers to ensure that these ccTLDs are administered in an accountable and transparent manner, in accordance with Australian law. We also track issues affecting these domains which may have an impact on Australians.