KordaMentha warns Australia may struggle to prove AML/CTF effectiveness in 2026 FATF review

KordaMentha analysis flagged execution risk for Australia’s 2026 FATF Mutual Evaluation despite the AML/CTF Amendment Act 2024 reforms. Grey-listing risk seen as reduced as the regime expands to tranche-two sectors, though effectiveness scores may lag due to limited implementation time. Transitional rules defer initial customer due diligence to March 31, 2029, limiting evidence of operational change during the 2026 review. Relief on reporting value transfers involving unverified self-hosted virtual-asset wallets runs to March 1, 2029, constraining near-term supervision gains. Beneficial-ownership transparency gaps persist; serious and organised crime costs Australia AUD 82.3 billion a year, raising pressure on proceeds outcomes. Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. KordaMentha Pty Ltd published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 14, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information c