AUSTRAC Releases AML/CTF Program Starter Kits for Small Businesses

AUSTRAC News & Media

Published January 30th, 2026

Detected March 13th, 2026

Summary

AUSTRAC has released Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) program starter kits to assist small businesses in newly regulated sectors. These kits provide practical tools and step-by-step guidance to help businesses meet their compliance obligations under the AML/CTF Act, which will take effect from July 1.

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What changed

AUSTRAC has issued new Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) program starter kits aimed at small businesses in sectors newly brought under AML/CTF regulation. These kits are designed to simplify compliance with the AML/CTF Act, which becomes effective for businesses such as lawyers, accountants, real estate agents, conveyancers, and jewellers from July 1, 2026. The initiative provides practical tools and step-by-step guidance to help these businesses develop their AML/CTF programs, reducing the time, cost, and regulatory burden associated with compliance.

Regulated businesses, particularly small enterprises in the newly designated sectors, should access these starter kits from AUSTRAC's website to begin building their AML/CTF programs. While the kits are designed to ease the compliance process, businesses must ensure their programs are tailored to their specific risks and operational scale. The release signifies a proactive step by AUSTRAC to support industry implementation of the AML/CTF reforms, aiming to disrupt criminal enterprises and protect the financial system.

What to do next

Access and review the AUSTRAC AML/CTF program starter kits.
Develop and implement an AML/CTF program tailored to the business's specific risks and operations.
Ensure compliance with AML/CTF Act obligations effective from July 1, 2026.

Source document (simplified)

AUSTRAC backs newly regulated sectors with release of AML/CTF program starter kits

30 January 2026

AUSTRAC has released its anti-money laundering program starter kits (kits), designed specifically to help small businesses in newly regulated sectors to meet their compliance obligations and manage ML/TF risks, while also reducing the time and cost of compliance.

From 1 July, businesses providing certain designated services commonly provided by lawyers, accountants, real estate agents, conveyancers and jewellers will have obligations under the AML/CTF Act.

The kits set out step-by-step actions these businesses can take to build their own anti-money laundering program and include practical tools to help businesses comply with the Act.

AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas said the release of the kits marked a key point in the implementation of the anti-money laundering reforms.

“AUSTRAC’s program starter kits mark the first time that an anti-money laundering regulator anywhere in the world has provided this level of practical support to business,” he said.

“We have developed these kits in close collaboration with industry peak bodies and small businesses across the newly regulated sectors.

“The kits aim to reduce the time, cost and effort for typical small businesses to develop an anti-money laundering program and will help ensure businesses new to anti-money laundering regulation meet their obligations without excessive regulatory burden.

“Programs built from the kit can scale to the size of your business and the money laundering risks posed by the customers you deal with.

“We know that most of your customers are individuals who pose a low to medium risk, and compliance for these customers generally boils down to just three forms.

“Organised crime costs the Australian economy billions of dollars and does immeasurable harm to the community each and every year.

“The changes to the anti-money laundering regime, will enable AUSTRAC and newly regulated businesses to work together to shut criminals out of the financial system and disrupt their illegal enterprises.

“Risk may seem like an abstract concept, but our kits tell you exactly what it means. If your customer is buying real estate with large amounts of physical currency, is engaging in unusual behaviour that can’t be explained with a legitimate reason or is hiding behind complex legal structures, the kit gives you the tools you need to deal with these situations.

“The kits give you the freedom to choose the customers and the risk you want to take on while providing you with the tools you need to appropriately mitigate and manage that risk.

“They represent an ongoing partnership with industry to lower regulatory impost and fight money laundering, and will be updated as obligations, risks and industry practices change.”

Learn if you will be regulated under the reforms.

If you will be regulated, don’t wait. Visit our website to access the starter kits and start building your program.