1 April 2009
Media Release
International conference to tackle money laundering and terrorism financing
A major international conference dedicated to the fight against money laundering and terrorism
financing begins in Sydney today.
The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Conference 2009 is co-hosted by
the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), the Attorney-General’s
Department, the Australian Bankers’ Association and the Australian Institute of Criminology.
Attorney-General Robert McClelland will open the conference with a speech outlining Australia’s
efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
It is estimated that up to $4.5 billion is laundered by criminals in and through Australia each
year, money which criminals can use to buy assets and finance further criminal activity.
An effective response requires close cooperation between government and the private sector
and the conference will bring together representatives from the banking and finance sectors,
government, regulatory and law enforcement agencies, industry bodies and academia to share
their views and experience with Australian and international experts.
The two-day conference at the Hilton Hotel will examine global trends in money laundering,
Australia’s regulatory regime, anti-money laundering offences and proceeds of crime legislation,
as well as the anticipated impacts of the global financial crisis.
Speakers at the conference will include Antonio Gustavo Rodrigues, President of the Financial
Action Task Force (FATF) and head of Brazil’s Financial Intelligence Unit; Mike Smith, UN
Executive Director for Counter-Terrorism; William F. Baity, Deputy Director of the US Financial
Crimes Enforcement Network; and Neil Jensen, AUSTRAC CEO and Chair of the Egmont
Committee.
The conference begins at 8.30am today, Wednesday, 1 April, and finishes at 5.00pm on
AIC media contact: Scott Kelleher, Tel: 02.6260 9244; m: 0418 159525.
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