About AUSTRAC
The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) is Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulator and financial intelligence service. It ensures that businesses are compliant with their reporting and risk management obligations and analyses and provides law enforcement authorities and national security partners with information to assist them in their investigations and operations.
About InBrief
Launched in December 2020 and published quarterly, AUSTRAC InBrief is aimed at helping businesses understand their AML/CTF obligations and protect the community from organised crime. Each issue of AUSTRAC InBrief covers a wide variety of topics and issues that involve AUSTRAC, including events, policy and legislation changes, case studies, compliance advice, and more. Issue 23, published in June 2026, consists of eight articles thematically centred around education and sharing information.
Feature article
Published on the eve of the commencement of Australia’s updated anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regime, the feature article is a mid-year retrospective written by AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas, and looks back at the five notable successes the organisation has had over the course of the first half of 2026. In addition to highlighting multiple achievements, Thomas also provided some insight into what lies ahead for AUSTRAC for the rest of the year – including the launch of Australia’s Financial Action Task Force (FATF) mutual evaluation.
Reform updates
Enrolment reminder
AUSTRAC reminded newly regulated businesses – especially those who provide specific designated services – of the importance of enrolling with AUSTRAC, the deadlines for enrolment, and the reasons for the recent reforms.
AML/CTF changes and reporting obligations
In light of newly updated AML/CTF laws having gone into effect as of 31 March 2026, AUSTRAC advised previously enrolled entities of the actions they’re expected to take, including updating their enrolment details in AUSTRAC Online, developing and documenting an implementation plan which explains how they’ll be managing money laundering and terrorism financing (ML/TF) risks, as well as any gaps they’ve identified and how they’ve addressed them. The article also provided further information on crucial changes made to the AML/CTF rules and supplied links to helpful educational resources and practical guides.
Educational resources updates
AUSTRAC’s new e-learning platform has officially launched and allows registered users to access a diverse library of resources that include webinars, certificates of completion, videos, and more. Educational modules concerning the AML/CTF reforms have also been published, with three currently available (covering ‘Introduction to AML/CTF’; ‘AML/CTF Governance’; and ‘ML/TF Risk Assessment’) as of 30 June, with more to be made available online over the course of the rest of the year.
Industry guidance
New reporting forms and guidance
From 1 July, AUSTRAC Online will feature new threshold transaction report (TTR) and suspicious matter report (SMR) forms, which have been updated to “make reporting simpler”. The reporting process has also been updated to make the submission process easier, simpler, and quicker. In addition, resources have also been made available to help both new and existing users make sense of the forms, including a training environment where users can test new forms.
AUSTRAC also reminded existing reporting entities that they are not required to transition to the new forms immediately, and can continue using existing forms until 30 March 2029.
VASP now live
AUSTRAC’s register of virtual asset service providers (VASP) is now accessible online, and is designed to help determine whether or not a business is legitimate, and also “brings Australia in line with international standards”. A checklist has also been provided for businesses that provide designated virtual asset services to help them determine whether or not they need to register with AUSTRAC. Finally, guidance is provided that explains why AUSTRAC might cancel a virtual asset business’ registration.
AUSTRAC news articles
Financial crime intelligence
AUSTRAC has prepared new intelligence products to help reporting entities improve their “risk-based approach and anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism (AML/CTF) controls”.
In addition, AUSTRAC’s latest insights reports address the increased tendency for both corporate entities and financial services to hide illicit funds and the vulnerability of the not-for-profit sector to money laundering and terrorism financing.
Fighting crime with data
Using real world examples, AUSTRAC explained how data provided to the Fintel Alliance from industry partners and suspicious matter reports helps assist law enforcement agencies in their investigations.
Key takeaways
In highlighting how AUSTRAC shares information with the Fintel Alliance and provides reporting entities educational material to assist them in maintaining and meeting their AML/CTF compliance obligations, AUSTRAC can ensure that the Australian community is better able to deter and disrupt organised crime.
