01 Jul
From today, 1 July 2026, Australia’s new Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) obligations officially apply to the real estate profession.
For agencies across Australia, the focus now shifts from preparing for the reforms to embedding AML compliance into everyday operations. This isn’t a one-off exercise – it requires ongoing processes, staff awareness and regular review.
As a starting point, every agency should ensure it has:
- Staff training so employees understand their AML obligations.
- Customer due diligence processes to collect and verify client information.
- Risk assessment procedures to identify higher-risk customers and transactions.
- Record keeping systems that meet regulatory requirements.
- Ongoing monitoring and reporting processes where suspicious activity is identified.
- Regular reviews to ensure your AML program remains effective as your business evolves.
Whether you’re still getting your AML program in place or simply want to check you’re on the right track, you can watch AMLHub’s free webinar series or speak with the team about how they can help your agency meet its ongoing compliance obligations.
Payday Super is here – Checklist for employers
Another significant workplace change taking effect from today is the introduction of Payday Super.
Instead of paying superannuation quarterly, employers are now required to pay eligible super contributions at the same time as salary and wages, with contributions reaching employees’ super funds within seven business days of payday. This change is designed to reduce unpaid super and help Australians grow their retirement savings sooner.
To help employers transition, REI Super has developed a practical Payday Super Employer Checklist covering key actions such as:
- Reviewing your payroll systems and processes.
- Confirming employee super fund details are up to date.
- Checking your payroll software and payment systems are ready.
- Planning for the impact on cash flow.
- Understanding your new reporting obligations.
Whether you’ve already made the transition or are doing a final check of your processes, this checklist is a useful resource to ensure your agency is ready.
Who is shaping the future of real estate?
Who should have the greatest influence over the future of Australia’s real estate industry – the profession itself, or the commercial organisations that service it?
That’s one of the key questions explored in a recent episode of Before the Weekend, where hosts Peter Schravemade and Kasey McDonald are joined by REIP CEO Sadhana Smiles and Adrian Knowles, CEO of Harcourts Australia.
Together, they explore REA Group’s growing network of strategic partnerships and what these developments mean for the future of industry data. The conversation also examines data sovereignty, REIP Nexus, proptech partnerships and whether the industry is moving closer to, or further away, from control of its own data.
The episode also helps explain why REIP was established and the important role it plays in advocating for the long-term interests of the industry. As access to industry data becomes increasingly important, REIP works to ensure businesses and agents have a voice in how that data is used to drive innovation, create value and support the future of the industry.
Whether you’ve been following these issues closely or are simply interested in where the industry is heading, this episode provides valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities ahead.
REIP
Real Estate Industry Partners
