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Australia’s real estate industry is about to face a major regulatory change. From 1 July 2026, new Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) obligations will apply to real estate professionals for the first time. Now is the time for agents to understand what’s ahead and prepare, without disrupting day-to-day work.
When announcing the legislation, the Federal Government highlighted it as a crucial step in protecting Australia from financial crime, including money laundering, terrorism financing, and other forms of organised crime. With property transactions involving large sums of money, the real estate sector is particularly exposed.
With changes fast approaching, early preparation means you stay compliant, protect your clients, and avoid last-minute stress.
From 1 July 2026, real estate professionals involved in buying or selling residential, commercial, land, or industrial property must comply with AML/CTF obligations.
In practice, this includes:
Further detail on these obligations is available here and directly from AUSTRAC. Agents are encouraged to refer to official guidance for the most up-to-date information.
Before 1 July 2026, all agencies must:
These steps are mandatory for all agencies and set the foundation for smooth compliance once the reforms take effect.
Agents will be required to onboard clients and report to AUSTRAC. There are two ways to meet these requirements:
The reliance option is a major advantage. It reduces the need for agents to repeat identity verification checks while still meeting compliance obligations. Agents retain ultimate responsibility, but Securexchange makes this process simple by allowing verified client checks to be securely shared from lawyers and conveyancers via InfoTrack or uploaded from other approved providers.
Agents retain ultimate responsibility for compliance, but reliance significantly reduces the manual work involved.
Navigating regulatory change can feel overwhelming, especially when compliance isn’t your core focus. Securexchange helps simplify the process through its AML/CTF Compliance Centre:
Practical guidance and tools to integrate AML/CTF procedures into your existing workflow
To further support real estate professionals, Securexchange will running the Ready-Set-Go AML/CTF Roadshow, in collaboration with InfoTrack, across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and the Australia Capital Territory from 3 March 2026.
The complimentary sessions will cover:
Spaces are limited – secure your spot today and stay ahead of the changes.
Resources:
AUSTRAC Starter Kits for real estate professionals are live, outlining what you need to know about obligations in your day-to-day work.
For detailed regulatory guidance, refer directly to AUSTRAC.