AML/CTF Act: Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006
The AML/CTF Act 2006 (Cth) is Australia's core AML/CTF statute, administered by AUSTRAC. It requires registration of remittance providers (Part 6, s 75) and virtual asset/digital-currency service providers (Part 6A, ss 76B-76E), with 2024 amendments (No. 110, 2024) extending obligations to virtual assets and 'tranche 2' professions from 2026.
At a glance
| Official title | Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 20061 |
|---|---|
| English title | Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 |
| Citation | Act No. 169, 2006 (Cth), registered compilation C2026C00274 |
| Jurisdiction | Australia |
| Type | act |
| Adopted | 2006-12-12 |
| In force from | 2007-12-12 |
| Status | in force |
Full text
Official full text: Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (PDF, en)2 · 1,735 KB · file checked 2026-09-24 · consolidated version of 2026-07-01
Official page: legislation.gov.au1 · archived copy
Summary
The AML/CTF Act 2006 (Cth) is Australia's primary anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism-financing statute, administered by AUSTRAC. It obliges 'reporting entities' providing designated services (banks, remittance providers, casinos, and, after 2024 amendments, virtual asset/digital currency services and 'tranche 2' professions such as lawyers, accountants and real estate agents) to adopt AML/CTF programs, conduct customer due diligence, and report suspicious matters, threshold transactions and cross-border movements. Part 6 creates the Remittance Sector Register (s 75) and Part 6A the Virtual Asset Service Provider Register (ss 76B-76E, renamed and expanded from the former Digital Currency Exchange Register by the 2024 amendment), both administered by the AUSTRAC CEO, with registration a precondition to lawfully providing those services. The 2024 amendment (Royal Assent 10 December 2024) extended obligations to virtual asset services (commenced 31 March 2026) and tranche 2 entities (obligations and enrolment from 1 July 2026).
Summary written by the Atlas from the official text; the law itself prevails.
Main articles
- s 75: Requires AUSTRAC CEO to maintain the Remittance Sector Register for registration of remittance service/network providers.
- s 76B: Requires AUSTRAC CEO to maintain the Virtual Asset Service Provider Register (formerly Digital Currency Exchange Register).
- s 76D: Sets out how a person applies in writing to AUSTRAC for registration as a virtual asset service provider.
Licences it governs
- MSB · Australia
Registration as a remittance service provider
Registration as a remittance service provider (remittance network provider or independent remittance dealer)AUSTRAC
- VASP · Australia
VASP licence
Registration as a virtual asset service provider (VASP) on the AUSTRAC Virtual Asset Service Provider Register (formerly the Digital Currency Exchange Register)AUSTRAC
Regulators that apply it
Sources
- legislation.gov.au: text · retrieved 2026-09-24
- legislation.gov.au · retrieved 2026-09-24
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