'Penalty unit' is defined in section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914.
Penalty units are used to describe the amount payable for fines under commonwealth laws, including under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act).
Fines are calculated by multiplying the value of one penalty unit by the number of penalty units prescribed for the offence.
| When infringement occurred | Penalty unit amount |
| Up to 27 December 2012 | $110 |
| 28 December 2012 - 30 July 2015 | $170 |
| 31 July 2015 - 30 June 2017 | $180 |
| On or after 1 July 2017 | $210 |