Australian website domains have previously been limited to “.com.au” and “.net.au” – but now and until 20 September 2022, Australian businesses get priority to register for a new, shorter domain: “.au”.
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What you need to know
If your business has an existing website with an Australian domain, you get priority in claiming the “.au” domain to match. So, for example, if your existing website is “www.commbank.com.au” then you can register for “www.commbank.au”.
You can claim your matching domain before 20 September 2022, but after this date the doors will be open for any Australian business, person or entity to register any unclaimed website names with the .au domain.
Why register an .au domain?
It’s important to snap up your business’ .au domain during the priority period because when registrations open to the general public, anyone could claim your business’ name for their website. By registering your business with an .au domain, it can help you to:
- Prevent online security threats: If an online criminal were to claim your domain name, they may try to impersonate your business in fraudulent activity like business email compromise
- Boost your online presence: If it’s difficult to find your business website when searching online, it could lead to missed opportunities to connect with customers.
Next steps – register by September 20, 2022
Contact your IT provider or existing domain hosting service to purchase an .au domain before 20 September 2022.
Visit the Australian Cyber Security Centre to learn more about the upcoming domain name changes.
Want to know more about keeping your business secure online?
We've partnered with the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) to help small businesses understand and learn how to combat the latest cyber security threats. Download Small Business Security Guide [PDF].
