AUSTRAC CEO Issues July 2026 Compliance Expectations for Real Estate and Other Newly Regulated Entities
"We do not expect newly regulated businesses to be perfect at identifying and controlling for money laundering risks from day one. We do expect honest efforts."— Brendan Thomas, AUSTRAC CEO
AUSTRAC's official statement on regulatory expectations for AML/CTF reforms
AUSTRAC has released its official expectations for businesses entering the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) regime under upcoming reforms. In a statement published on 4 July 2025, CEO Brendan Thomas outlined clear requirements for businesses that will be regulated from 1 July 2026—including real estate agents and buyer's agents.
This update confirms that AUSTRAC's early focus will be on helping businesses understand their obligations—not immediate enforcement. However, there is a strong warning for entities that ignore enrolment or turn a blind eye to criminal activity.
What Real Estate Businesses Must Have in Place by 1 July 2026
To comply with the new obligations, businesses must:
- Enrol with AUSTRAC as a reporting entity (from 31 March 2026)
- Have an AML/CTF Program (AUSTRAC's starter program will be available in December 2025)
- Nominate an AML/CTF Compliance Officer
- Ensure staff are trained in AML/CTF obligations and suspicious matter indicators
- Be ready to conduct Know Your Customer (KYC) checks and report suspicious activity
AUSTRAC is also publishing a timeline of regulatory expectations in July 2025, detailing the steps required each month to help newly regulated businesses prepare effectively.
How We Help Real Estate Professionals Comply
At our consultancy, we specialise in AML/CTF compliance services tailored to real estate professionals. Whether you're a sole operator or a multi-agent agency, our goal is to simplify compliance and reduce your regulatory risk.
AML/CTF Policy Development
We create a compliant, real estate-specific AML/CTF Program aligned with AUSTRAC's expectations and sector risks.
KYC Setup & Client Onboarding
We help integrate third-party KYC providers with remote onboarding and PEP/sanctions screening. Clients receive a mobile-friendly link to submit ID and documents securely. You receive a risk score and a compliant record.
Staff Training
We provide customisable AML/CTF training materials to ensure staff can recognise suspicious behaviour and understand reporting procedures.
Compliance Dashboard & 7-Year Storage
We offer a user-friendly compliance dashboard for your agency to store KYC records, training logs, and Suspicious Matter Report (SMR) notes securely—retained for the required seven-year period.
Ongoing Support
We guide you through registration with AUSTRAC, help you appoint a Compliance Officer, and provide reminders and tools to stay compliant year-round.
💡 Note: AUSTRAC's early enforcement will focus on businesses that either wilfully avoid enrolment or are complicit in money laundering—not those making genuine efforts to comply.
Timeline and What to Expect Next
AUSTRAC has committed to:
- Publishing regulatory priorities for 2025–26 in July 2025
- Releasing a step-by-step timeline showing what reporting entities need to do each month to prepare for July 2026
- Hosting education forums and releasing starter programs by December 2025
"AUSTRAC is evolving its regulatory approach to focus hard on reducing the harm of financially enabled crime… We will be transparent in how we use our regulatory capabilities to do that."— Brendan Thomas, CEO
Ready to Prepare? We're Here to Help
If you're unsure how to meet your obligations, we offer practical and affordable compliance packages for real estate agencies across Australia. We'll help you:
- Understand what's required
- Set up KYC and storage solutions
- Train your team
- Stay ahead of regulatory deadlines
You don't need to wait until 2026 to start. Get compliant now—before it becomes urgent.
Source:
AUSTRAC Regulatory Expectations for the Implementation of the AML/CTF Reforms
Brendan Thomas, AUSTRAC CEO — Statement released 4 July 2025