Govt should finish AML/CTF regime

The failure of successive governments to implement further tranches of the Commonwealth Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) regime has placed undue pressure on financial institutions, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA). 

In a submission the Federal Attorney-General’s Review of the AML/CTF regime, ASFA pointed out the review white paper’s acknowledgment that when the legislation was originally introduced “it was seen as the first tranche of reforms”. 

“Extension of the Act to cover a second tranche of business sectors - lawyers, accountants, real estate agents, trust and company service providers and high value dealers - was intended to proceed later but has not occurred to date.”  

The submission said ASFA had noted that the second tranche was promised within 12 months of December 2006 by the then Minister for Justice and Customs, Chris Ellison but that, “over six years later there appears to be no further commitment in this area”. 

“The burden of having Tranche II businesses as customers of the financial sector has instead been borne solely by financial institutions,” the submission said. “This has particular impact on the superannuation sector where Tranche II businesses are often involved in establishing and managing superannuation funds. 

“ASFA contends that gaps in the net designed to stop acquisitive crime will continue to exist for as long as Tranche II is left unimplemented in Australia,” it said.