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On 28 August 2026, AUSTRAC began issuing section 167 notices to businesses that appear to be providing designated services but have not enrolled under Australia's AML/CTF regime.

For years, sanctions compliance has largely operated on a simple assumption: when a major jurisdiction imposes sanctions, companies identify their exposure and take steps to comply. Historically, that process was relatively straightforward. However, latest expansion of US pressure on Iran, combined with China’s increasingly assertive use of its blocking and counter-sanctions laws, has introduced new complexity and risk.

Understanding changes to AML/CTF obligations and the Privacy Act: what reporting entities need to know.

From 1 July, the updated AML/CTF regime takes effect for Tranche 2 organisations including the real estate industry. There is already commentary, interpretation and subsequently confusion in the aged care market.

The AML/CTF Amendment Bill 2026 gives AUSTRAC new powers to restrict or prohibit the use of high‑risk mechanisms such as crypto ATMs by reporting entities.

Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) regime continues to experience change.

The AUSTRAC AML/CTF Starter Programs provide a structured pathway to achieving AML/CTF compliance that will significantly reduce the effort and cost of AML/CTF compliance for entities required to meet AML/CTF obligations under Tranche 2.

As Australia prepares for the landmark Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) reforms – set to take effect in the coming months – businesses across sectors face a pivotal moment not just to comply with how to manage financial crime risk, but to transform themselves for the better. The real challenge lies in building a culture that embeds AML obligations into the DNA of an organisation.

How leadership teams can implement effective ML/TF risk management, ongoing AML/CTF compliance, and the successful definition and embedding of an organisation's AML/CTF compliance culture.

Grant Thornton is a leading specialist in AML/CTF risk management and can assist businesses by providing tailored AML/CTF risk management and compliance services

The AML Reforms introduce the concept of a 'reporting group'—a flexible model that allows both related and unrelated entities to manage and mitigate ML/TF risks under a single, comprehensive AML/CTF Program.

The introduction of Value Transfer Service obligations under Australia’s AML/CTF reforms significantly broadens the scope of compliance requirements, affecting a wide range of businesses and requiring new processes, technology, and training.