AML/CTF Act
The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act) is the main piece of Australian government legislation that regulates AUSTRAC’s functions.
Access the AML/CTF Act
You can find the AML/CTF Act at the Federal Register of Legislation website:
Your obligations under the AML/CTF Act
If you provide one or more designated services as prescribed in the AML/CTF Act, you must enrol with AUSTRAC and comply with the obligations set out in the AML/CTF Act. You must also register with AUSTRAC if the designated service you provide includes remittance service or digital currency exchange service:
Once you have enrolled with AUSTRAC, we provide detailed guidance to help you comply with your obligations relating to:
Other AUSTRAC legislation
- The AML/CTF Rules supplement the AML/CTF Act by providing more detailed information in relation to specific requirements under the AML/CTF Act.
- The Financial Transaction Reports Act (FTR Act) was repealed on 7 January 2025. Some business entities and professions, such as motor vehicle dealers who act as insurers or insurance intermediaries and solicitors, still have ongoing obligations following the repeal. Learn more about your ongoing obligations.
- The Industry Contribution Acts cover the requirements of the annual industry contribution levy that certain reporting entities have to pay to cover AUSTRAC’s operating costs.
This guidance sets out how we interpret the Act, along with associated Rules and regulations. Australian courts are ultimately responsible for interpreting these laws and determining if any provisions of these laws are contravened.
The examples and scenarios in this guidance are meant to help explain our interpretation of these laws. They’re not exhaustive or meant to cover every possible scenario.
This guidance provides general information and isn't a substitute for legal advice. This guidance avoids legal language wherever possible and it might include generalisations about the application of the law. Some provisions of the law referred to have exceptions or important qualifications. In most cases your particular circumstances must be taken into account when determining how the law applies to you.