AML Has Arrived – And Now We're Doing the Government's Job

As of 1 July 2026, those of us in real estate have officially become part-time investigators for the Government's Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regime.

To be honest, I'm not happy about it.

For nearly 28 years in real estate, I've met thousands of buyers and sellers. In August, I'll celebrate my 28th year in the industry, and I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say I've never knowingly dealt with a dodgy client.

Yet now, every seller and buyer who walks through our door is going to be subjected to a level of scrutiny that many honest Australians will find intrusive and frustrating.

Don't get me wrong, I understand why AML laws exist.

Criminals have been known to use property transactions to clean dirty money. They buy property, hold it for a period, sell it, and suddenly illicit funds appear legitimate. Nobody wants that happening, and nobody supports criminal activity.

But here's the question: at what point does fighting crime become an invasion of privacy for ordinary people?

The Government has decided that real estate agencies must collect more information, ask more personal questions, verify identities, investigate sources of funds, maintain extensive records, and monitor transactions.

And who pays for it?

Not the Government.

Small businesses do.

We have to purchase new compliance software, implement new systems, undertake training, appoint compliance officers, monitor every transaction, and absorb the ongoing costs of compliance.

No financial assistance.

No subsidies.

No compensation.

Just another cost added to the growing list of expenses small businesses are expected to carry.

Well done, Government.

The outcome is simple.

If you're buying or selling property today, expect more questions.

Expect more paperwork.

Expect requests for identification.

Expect to explain where your deposit funds came from.

Expect delays while information is checked and verified.

And if you're an honest person, which the overwhelming majority of people are, you may find yourself wondering why you're being treated like a suspect before you've done anything wrong.

What happened to common sense?

What happened to experience and intuition?

Instead of allowing professionals to use their judgement, we're increasingly being told to follow a checklist, tick boxes, and collect information simply because the regulations require it.

The reality is that we don't have a choice. It's now the law, and we must comply.

But complying with the law doesn't mean we have to love it.

As a real estate professional, I'll continue doing what I've always done, helping people buy and sell property, treating them with respect and giving them honest advice.

Just don't be surprised when we're forced to ask questions we never needed to ask before.

The good old days of simply dealing with people as people are rapidly disappearing.

So, when you're buying or selling property, remember it's not your local agent making life more complicated.

We're just the ones being required to enforce the rules.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!!