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 In March, the IAA team gathered at the Mercure on the NSW Central Coast for our annual Staff Planning Workshop. This is always a valuable opportunity to bring our geographically dispersed team together in one room to align on how we can better serve our Members.

This year’s Workshop focused on aligning our efforts to meet current OKRs, setting measurable goals for the year ahead, improving how we collaborate, and strengthening our approach to security and incident response, all within the framework of our 2024–2027 Strategic Plan.

A highlight of the Workshop was our team-building activity: SolarBuddy’s Hour of Power. SolarBuddy is an impactful organisation working to end extreme energy poverty, which is a major, but often overlooked, global issue. IAA staff worked together to construct some 20 solar powered lights to send to people in need around the world.

Following last week’s Annual General Meeting we’re pleased to announce the IAA Board election results.

Congratulations to our newly elected Board Members:

Karl Kloppenborg and Fraser McGlinn.

Both have been elected for three-year terms and will take their places alongside Matthew Enger (Board Chair), Brett O’Hara (Deputy Chair), David Hooton and Nathan Brookfield.

We extend a special note of appreciation to our outgoing Board Members, Richard Thompson (2021-2024) and Matthew Moyle-Croft (2020-2024). Both have made outstanding contributions to IAA and the internet community during their tenure, and we thank them for their service.

Thanks also to all Board nominees, voters and attendees of this year’s IAA AGM.

Once again, this meeting was held online. As outlined in the agenda, the meeting received a report from the Chair, Deputy Chair and CEO, along with the aforementioned election result and the appointment of the auditor.

For those that missed the AGM or would just like a recap, you can find our Annual Report, the AGM slide deck via the [IAA website] and the meeting has been placed on the IAA YouTube Channel.

You will find further information about the Internet Association of Australia Ltd in the IAA Annual Report.

Should you have any questions about the AGM, please contact secretary@internet.asn.au.

Welcome our new Board Members

Karl Kloppenborg – Professional Member

We are thrilled to announce that Karl Kloppenborg has secured a position on the IAA Board! After a strong campaign last year, he came back for a second attempt to secure a place, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to our community and the future of internet governance.

With over 15 years of hands-on experience in telecommunications, systems engineering, cloud computing and internet advocacy, Karl is perfectly positioned to contribute to the IAA’s continued growth and advancement.

Karl currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of ResetData Pty Ltd, where he is spearheading the development of the world’s first environmentally sustainable public cloud. Before joining ResetData, he held key positions at organisations such as Real World Group, DigitalMaas, and Crucial Cloud Hosting, where he designed and developed critical systems, including cloud environments and analytics platforms. His career has been marked by a dedication to innovation in cloud computing and distributed systems, and his technical expertise spans a range of programming languages, systems engineering tools, and virtualisation technologies.

In addition to his technical background, Karl is deeply committed to the development and governance of the internet. He has been actively involved with APNIC (Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre) for several years, advocating for policy changes related to transparency, fair representation, and meaningful reforms in internet governance. His advocacy efforts have provided him with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing our global internet infrastructure.

Please join us in welcoming Karl to the Board!

Fraser McGlinn – Professional Member

We are excited to announce that Fraser McGlinn has secured a position on the IAA Board! After vying for a seat last year, Fraser put his hand up again to secure a seat on the Board this year, showcasing his continued passion for the internet community.

Fraser brings a broad professional background that spans multiple countries, including New Zealand, Australia, and the Philippines, offering a unique perspective on the needs of the sector.

In his current role, Fraser leads the Network Design and Architecture Team at an ISP in the Philippines, where he is dedicated to the mission of “Accelerating internet for the Philippines and improving connectivity for all Filipinos.” Central to this mission is the operation of the Philippines’ largest Internet Exchange, where fostering relationships and community engagement has been key to its ongoing success. As Fraser says, “When we share, everyone wins.”

A strong advocate for upholding the founding core values of the internet—community, inclusivity, and respect—Fraser’s extensive experience in governance, technical, and operational roles has deepened his commitment to promoting these principles in real and measurable ways.

As a Board Member, Fraser says he is dedicated to evolving outreach and mentoring programs such as IAASysters, which provide vital mentorship opportunities for young people and newcomers to the field.

Fraser also emphasises the importance of sensible policy development, advocating for open discussions between the industry and government. He is committed to facilitating forums that address internet-related issues, fostering cooperation and community-building while ensuring there is no disconnect between the government and the industry.

Please join us in welcoming Fraser McGlinn to the Board!

The past couple months has been very busy for the policy team, and we continue to see various legislative and regulatory reforms in the telco sector.

Please get in touch to share any thoughts on any open and previous submissions; we always appreciate your feedback.

CDR Paused For Telcos

Treasury has confirmed that the expansion of the Consumer Data Right (CDR) Scheme has been paused for the telecommunications sector. Following the release of the 2023-24 Budget, it was revealed that $88.8 million will be invested over 2 years to support the CDR in banking, energy and non-band lending sectors and deliver a cyber security uplift. As had been speculated, it was further announced in the CDR Framework Design and Strategy, that a strategic assessment is planned for the end of 2024. This is to inform future expansions of implementation of action initiatives, including in the other sectors. This strategic assessment will require the consideration of new criteria, and consultation process.

The telco industry has long been pushing back on the expansion of the CDR into the sector. With plenty of information already provided to customers in an accessible format, in accordance with the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code, as well as switching between telco providers being a feature within the industry, representatives have disputed the need for the CDR Scheme.

This pause is welcome news.  We look forward to continuing consultations with government, should discussions surrounding the implementation of the CDR for the telco sector arise again. You can read our previous responses to consultations related to the CDR for further details.

Completed Submissions

Copyright Enforcement Review | Attorney General Department

The Attorney General Department consulted on its Issue Paper regarding the review of Australia’s copyright enforcement regime. In our response, we pointed out the dangers of relying on website blocking schemes due to their inherent impact on the openness of the Internet, and the likelihood of motivated actors to go around these blocks. We also recommended finding other mechanisms outside of the court system to enforce copyright protection, and to focus on reducing infringement of copyright laws as opposed to enforcement after the fact.

Internet Carriage Services Online Safety Code | Industry Associations

Following the eSafety Commissioner’s response to the first round of the industry Online Safety Codes, the industry associations released round two of the Codes. We submitted specifically to Code 7 for Internet Carriage Services. Our response focused on the need to ensure compliance measures balance the protection of individuals with the need to minimise unnecessary burdens on ISPs.

ACMA Compliance Priorities 2023-24 | ACMA

We responded to the ACMA Compliance Priorities for 2023-24 and emphasised that rather than focusing on enforcement measures, the ACMA should prioritise encouraging compliance. We suggested this could be achieved via industry and community engagement, education and awareness and lowering the burden of regulatory compliance for industry.

Privacy Act Review Report | Attorney General Department

The Attorney General Department released its Privacy Act Review Report, which proposed various significant reforms to the Privacy Act. Should the Privacy Act be amended as per the proposals contained in the Report, these changes could prove to have substantial impacts, such as the removal of the small business exemption that currently exists. Our response reiterated positions we have expressed in previous submission regarding privacy legislation. In particular, we emphasised the need to focus on ensuring best practice data and personal information handling practices through collaborative means, as opposed to the expansion of the APPs that does not necessarily ensure compliance with the complex regulation.

2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy | Department of Home Affairs

The Department of Home Affairs and the Strategy Expert Advisory Board sought feedback on the 2023-30 Australian Cyber Security Strategy Discussion Paper. Our response primarily focused on the need for greater genuine engagement and collaboration, to ensure a truly effective approach to cyber security. In the context of increasing regulatory requirements for the telco sector in relation to data security, critical infrastructure and privacy, we emphasised the need to harmonise and simplify the current policy landscape for an effective and efficient strategy that combats the threats and risks to Australia’s cyber security.

Final Access Determination (SBAS) | ACCC

The ACCC released its Exposure Draft to the Superfast Broadband Access Service Final Access Determination. This draft instrument was based on the ACCC’s decision released in October 2022, with limited incorporation of stakeholder feedback to the consultation held during December 2022. Our response reiterated our positions stated in our response during the December consultation, including the extension of the Determination to cover all residential TC-4 speed tiers at NBN Co pricing, and regarding NNI and state based aggregation charges. We also recommended the Determination to expressly set out prohibition to on-charge RBS.

Open Submissions

Draft Decision: Variation to the NBN Co Special Access Undertaking (Nov 2022) | ACCC | 30 May 2023

The ACCC has released its draft decision to reject the proposed NBN Co SAU Variation. It is seeking views on its draft decision, and whether providers would accept a NBN Co SAU variation proposal based on NBN Co’s letter in response to the issues raised by the ACCC.

Although rejecting the SAU overall, amongst other things, the ACCC has indicated it is willing to accept the price increase for the 50/20 Mbps speed tier. Review the ACC’s draft decision.

Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code| Communications Alliance | 6 June 2023

Communications Alliance has commenced its review of the TCP Code, with the review to take place over 3 stages. The first stage, with the deadline for responses to its Discussion Paper closing in early June, is intended to be a pre-code drafting stage to gather information in order to set the foundations for the rest of the review.

We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to David Hooton for his service to our Board as Chair over the past two years. As the Chair, he has helped the association achieve many things, including the transition to a company limited by guarantee.

We are pleased to inform members that David will continue to serve on the Board as a nominee of corporate member, Field Solutions. We are very fortunate to have him remain on the Board!

The official notice for this year’s AGM was sent out on Wednesday 27 October 2021. 

AGM Details: 

Date: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Time: 5.00pm AEDT / 2.00pm AWST
Location:  Online via video conference (Zoom) using the link below 

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3616315328358/WN_eVu18wLxQF6pOSGuu2_Iog 

AGM Documents

At the Annual General Meeting, the board will present for consideration IAA’s annual reports in accordance with its obligations under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and recommend the appointment of Crunch Auditing as the auditor for the 2021-2022 financial year.

Please direct any questions or feedback to secretary@internet.asn.au 

Nominations  

The nomination period for Board members closed at midnight AWST on 25th October 2021. Nomination statements are now available for members to read.  

The following nominations have been received: 

  • Daryl Collins, Akamai International 
  • Nate Garr 
  • Richard Thompson 

Board Elections 

As there are three nominees for the three available Board seats, voting this year will be to determine the term length for each nominee. There are two three-year terms and one one-year term. Voting information will be sent to eligible voting members on Wednesday 10 November. Please ensure your member details are up to date on the Members Portal. 

Proxies 

As per section 8.2 of the IAA Ltd Constitution, members may appoint a proxy to attend, speak and vote at a General Meeting in their place. To appoint a proxy, please complete the online Proxy Form. Proxies must be received by no later than 2pm AWST/5pm AEDT 15 November 2021. 

We look forward to seeing you at the 2021 Annual General Meeting. 

This month, nominations to the Board opened Friday 8 October and closed Monday 25 October.  There are three seats up for election this time around; two seats are for three-year terms, and the remaining seat is for a one-year term. Under our new constitution, all members get to vote for all three seats. 

We are pleased to advise that we have received three nominations which can be viewed on our website.  The official notice of AGM has been sent and voting information will be sent to professional members and the voting contacts of corporate members soon. Please keep an eye out for our upcoming emails and social media posts to stay informed. 

One of the biggest developments over the past month was our official registration as a company limited by guarantee with ASIC. The change from the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 (WA) to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), was necessary as it reflects our national growth as an association.  

From the initial consultation with members to the Special General Meeting (SGM), this process required much effort from the Board, staff and members. The SGM held Wednesday 28 July 2021 saw the required majority of votes in favour of the transition.  

We remain proud of our Western Australia roots and hope to continue the good works of the Association in the form of both advocacy and services.  

Want to join a dynamic focus group and give back to your association? We’re looking for a group of five members who would like to join a focus group to provide feedback on our marketing efforts.  

As part of the focus group, you will be asked periodically for your feedback on prospective marketing ideas, campaigns, and content to ensure we provide members with the resources, events, and content they want.  

If this is something you or someone you know is interested in, please get in touch with us at admin@internet.asn.au 

The transition to a company limited by guarantee continues as we patiently wait to hear back from ASIC to register under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) with deregistration from the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 (WA) complete.   

With lockdowns and now even the earthquake, paperwork processing at ASIC has been delayed. Members should rest assured that we will call the AGM as soon as we hear from ASIC!  

We would like to extend our gratitude to members who participated in the workshops and consultations and voted on the transition. As a member-run association, your input is invaluable.   

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