Organised crime is borderless. That’s why we are collaborating with our Pacific partners to improve detection and financial crime reporting across the region.

In July, we ran a 3-day workshop in Port Moresby with Papua New Guinea’s Financial Analysis and Supervision Unit (FASU). The program focused on emerging threats, organised crime and implementing reforms to their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) system. 

In August we hosted financial intelligence analysts from PNG and Tonga in Sydney. We collaborated with them to enhance their ability to strengthen their AML/CTF systems and capabilities. This work included developing standard operating procedures and improving processes.

“It’s important to work with our neighbours and improve capabilities across the region to fight crime,” said Dr John Moss, Deputy CEO Intelligence. 

The collaboration is part of the FASU-AUSTRAC Mutual Evaluation Support (FAMES) Program. This program is a 3-year initiative funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The program focuses on building PNG’s capacity to detect, investigate and prevent emerging financial crimes.

We are working with FASU to strengthen its AML/CTF regime by supporting regulatory, supervision and policy teams to develop guidance and education materials for the remittance sector. The aim is to improve awareness and understanding of reporting obligations among remittance providers in PNG to increase the volume and quality of suspicious matter reporting.

We will hold more intelligence capability courses, along with a Financial Intelligence Analyst Course (FIAC) for analysts and law enforcement agencies. Under the scheme senior AUSTRAC leaders will also mentor female FASU staff, with further staff secondments planned. 

In December 2024 we also officially handed over the TAIPAN IT system to the Bank of PNG’s FASU. We’ve now delivered the financial data analytics system to 10 financial intelligence units across the Pacific. Our international engagement extends beyond the Pacific. You can find out more about our international partners on our website.