The pricing to reg .com.au or .net.au domains is in the order of $44(aud) (2 yrs) I get a slightly better price, but in order to become a reseller, and get the better prices you need to be a Registered Aus business in the correct Industry and apply to become a reseller. I think there are a few cheaper places around - but I use this registrair even for a lot of my .com domains simply because they are so good ( even though I end up paying more for them) In order to register a .au domain name you have to meet several criteria - including being a registered business - as cdristo noted. If you are an Aus business, PM me and I'll send details. If you only need to reg 1 or 2, then I might be able to help.
Less spammy .com.au as a result. Your business has to have some sort of relation to the website address as well. So even if you had a business number, if you were a drycleaner business, applying to get forex.com.au would probably get rejected.
They need to free up the .com.au domain space. There was a debate about it a while ago...but it wasnt widely publicised. Its somewhere on the site but pretty well hidden. Heres some .com.au details http://www.auda.org.au/domains/au-domains/ Having to be a business to use your own countries top level domain space reeks of a two tier system if you ask me. As an Australian citizen I have just as much right to use a .com.au as some business does...Its ludicrous, discriminatory and should be abolished asap. Thats my 2c.
A bit of a waste as well. If they ever get challenged by a legitimate company who claims right to that name, probability is they will lose it. Those who are hoping on any loopholes, forget the retro-laws governments in Australia usually brings in, which would make them null-void. If you do want .au domain, get a .net.au or .org.au Some pretty big .net.au domains out there, so is viable. Check out http://www.iwebtool.com/www.whirlpool.net.au for eg
Aye, there's still plenty of .com.au to go around. The way .au is priced that won't be changing anytime soon.