International cooperation initiatives
AUSTRAC participates in a range of initiatives with our international partners to help strengthen the resilience of the global financial system and protect our region.
The Egmont Group
Formed in 1995, the Egmont Group is a network of financial intelligence units (FIUs). It provides a forum to exchange expertise and financial intelligence to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
Financial Intelligence Consultative Group
The Financial Intelligence Consultative Group (FICG) is a regional body of FIUs from Southeast Asia, New Zealand and Australia. AUSTRAC is a permanent co-chair alongside another FICG FIU, which rotate on an annual basis.
The FICG aims to promote, enhance and strengthen collaboration on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. It does this through prioritising and addressing regional risks, intelligence sharing and building FIU tradecraft and capability.
The Southeast Asia Counter-Terrorism Financing Working Group
The FICG facilitates the Southeast Asia Counter-Terrorism Financing Working Group (SEA CTFWG). The SEA CTFWG was established to provide practical mechanisms for regional FIUs to progress strategic priorities, and coordinate operational work to combat terrorism financing in the region.
ASEAN collaboration
In March 2018 the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia signed a Counter-Terrorism Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU strengthens our cooperation to combat terrorism, counter terrorism financing and counter violent extremism.
This has led to the establishment of a regional program of Financial Intelligence Analyst Courses (FIAC), Multilateral Analyst Exchange Program (MAEP), scholarships to study a Graduate Certificate of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing and regional engagement activities.
Pacific Financial Intelligence Community
The Pacific Financial Intelligence Community (PFIC) brings together all 15 Pacific FIUs. The PFIC promotes greater collaboration among its members, covering operational engagement, research activities, capacity building and technology enhancement. It meets virtually every two months and in person annually.
The PFIC operates through four working groups each led by a different country and each collaborating on different areas of mutual priority; i) operations, ii) research, iii) technology and iv) capacity building.
AUSTRAC and the Papua New Guinea FIU, FASU are co-chairs of PFIC with AUSTRAC also providing the Secretariat function for the group.
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This guidance provides general information and isn't a substitute for legal advice. This guidance avoids legal language wherever possible and it might include generalisations about the application of the law. Some provisions of the law referred to have exceptions or important qualifications. In most cases your particular circumstances must be taken into account when determining how the law applies to you.