On 29 August 2025 we tabled the new Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Rules 2025 (the Rules) in Parliament. This marks a large step for businesses preparing for regulation in 2026.

New Rules released

The release of the new Rules followed a 2-stage public consultation with industry. We received valuable insights that helped us keep the real-world impacts in mind as we developed the legal framework for the AML/CTF regime.

The new Rules provide supplementary detail and focus on building on the requirements in the amended Act to:

• set up businesses to mitigate and manage their money laundering and terrorism financing (ML/TF) risk
• modernise the laws to meet global best practice.

Learn more about the new Rules and read them now.

When AML/CTF obligations come into effect

The new AML/CTF obligations do not come into effect straight away. They come into effect in different stages:

• 31 March 2026: Changes to AML/CTF obligations start for current reporting entities, except for threshold transaction reporting and suspicious matter reporting which will remain the same until 2029
• 31 March 2026: Enrolment opens for newly regulated sectors (tranche 2)
• 1 July 2026: AML/CTF obligations start for tranche 2 entities.

Learn more about preparing for the changes as a current reporting entity and as a newly-regulated entity.

Upcoming guidance to support businesses

We are committed to supporting current reporting entities and newly regulated entities through guidance, education and industry forums. 

In October we’ll be releasing new core guidance to help businesses understand their obligations, what has changed and how they can get ready for regulation.

We’ll also be releasing sector-specific guidance for lawyers, accountants, real estate agents, conveyancers and jewellers. This includes starter program kits for small, low-complexity businesses in these sectors.

Learn more about what’s coming soon to help you prepare for reform.