The Bondi Beach terror attack on 14 December 2025 was a shocking reminder that Australia is not immune to terrorism.
Earlier in 2025, ASIO’s Director‑General of Security, Mike Burgess, foreshadowed the evolving danger and assessed our national terrorism threat level as ‘probable’. This predicted a more than 50% chance of an attack within the next year.
Businesses like yours are on the frontline of helping us combat money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing. Our counter-terrorism financing regime is contributing to the wider national approach to fighting terrorism and violent extremism.
What we are doing
We provide regular guidance on terrorism financing risks, including through our Terrorism Financing in Australia National Risk Assessment. This assessment helps you understand your obligations under the anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) Act and how to manage risks in your business.
While this helps your business or organisation detect suspicious activity, it also means we can share actionable intelligence with law enforcement and national security partners. This intelligence supports taskforces across Australia, including the Australian Federal Police’s joint threat financing group and joint counter‑terrorism teams.
We analyse financial data to identify potential terrorism financing and other serious crimes. It’s information that can provide vital clues for investigations by a range of taskforces, law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Our work also ensures we remain aligned with the international standards for combating terrorism set by the Financial Action Task Force.
Following the Bondi Beach attack, we’re continuing to support law enforcement agencies.
What can you do
You play an important role in helping detect and disrupt terrorism financing.
You can help by:
- maintaining an effective AML/CTF program
- understanding the terrorism financing risks relevant to your business using the Terrorism Financing in Australia National Risk Assessment
- monitoring for suspicious transactions or unusual customer behaviour
- submitting timely, high quality suspicious matter reports.
The information you provide helps generate intelligence that supports investigations and enables law enforcement to detect and disrupt serious crime, including terrorism.
With your help, we can strengthen the financial system and protect the Australian community.