Reporting to AUSTRAC is a key obligation for businesses regulated under Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws. The information that we collect from these businesses plays a crucial role in protecting Australia from financial crime. It helps AUSTRAC and law enforcement agencies track down criminals through suspicious transactions and behaviour.
The Federal Court of Australia has imposed civil penalties of $50,000 and $45,000 respectively against Castra Licensee Pty Ltd (Castra) and Princeton Securities (NSW) Pty Ltd (Princeton) after they failed to pay infringement notices issued by AUSTRAC.
For the first time, Australia and Indonesia have joined forces in Jakarta for a week of action to combat child sexual exploitation (CSE), a crime that increasingly spans borders, platforms and financial systems.
“Criminals leave financial footprints – in following them we can help law enforcement locate people hiding in plain sight,” AUSTRAC Deputy CEO Intelligence, Dr Alexandra Caples, said.
“By combining financial data from banks, industry and government through the Fintel Alliance, we can often provide actionable leads for law enforcement that support community safety on the ground.”
Obligations for businesses currently regulated under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act) changed on 31 March 2026, and will be introduced for new businesses on 1 July 2026. This update sets out our expectations for current and new regulated businesses in meeting their obligations.
AUSTRAC has ordered Bankstown District Sports Club Ltd to appoint an external auditor amid concerns its anti-money‑laundering (AML) controls may not be strong enough to stop organised crime exploiting poker machines and gambling venues.
Australia’s money laundering, terrorism and proliferation financing risks are becoming more complex and interconnected, driven by technology, globalisation and the growing overlap between legitimate and illicit activity, AUSTRAC says.
Good morning everyone,
And thank you for the opportunity to open this conference for the Financial Integrity Hub.
It’s wonderful seeing these many leaders from across banking, fintech, academia, law enforcement, and major industry gathered in one place.
Let me start with the reality we’re dealing with in Australia.
AUSTRAC has launched two targeted supervisory campaigns into Australia’s virtual assets sector, as landmark Australian anti-money laundering reforms reshape how virtual asset businesses are regulated.
We have written to businesses in the wealth management sector with concerns about alarmingly low suspicious matter reporting (SMR) and the risk that serious financial crime may be going undetected.