We are committed to addressing threats to national security, including the illicit movement of money and money laundering. On 16 October 2025, the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Tony Burke MP, announced that legislation to amend the AML/CTF Act will be developed.
The reforms will give the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) powers to restrict or prohibit high-risk products, services or delivery channels. There will also be an amendment to the definition ‘financing of terrorism’.
On 12 March 2026, the Minister for Home Affairs introduced the legislative reforms in Parliament. You can view these reforms in the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2026.
Public consultation
The department conducted public consultation relating to the proposed reforms to the AML/CTF Act in December 2025 and January 2026.
The Consultation Paper contains questions targeted at industry. You can read the Consultation Paper on the 2026 Reforms to the AML/CTF Act.
The public consultation period closed on Wednesday 21 January 2026. The department received 8 submissions in response to the Consultation Paper. Public submissions with consent to publish are available below.
List of submissions to the Consultation Paper:
