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Canberra Today 14°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Southern Cross Club facing external audit after Austrac assessment of their anti-money laundering policies

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CANBERRA’S Southern Cross Club has been advised by Austrac that it is required to undergo an external audit of its anti-money laundering/counter terrorism financing compliance program.

This is a result of a compliance assessment completed by Austrac.

“Notwithstanding the challenges Clubs in the ACT face regarding our ongoing business models, our strict compliance to anti-money laundering policies and procedures is clearly a non-negotiable requirement. We will immediately engage Austrac approved external auditors to assist us in this matter.”

The Board of Canberra Southern Cross Club have acknowledged the opportunity to improve procedures and will ensure the ongoing rigour in compliance processes are in place for all stakeholders.


UPDATE: Austrac has made a scathing statement:

AUSTRAC has required Canberra Southern Cross Club Limited (CSCC) to appoint an external auditor to assess and help improve its compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws.

The notice follows an assessment by AUSTRAC that CSCC had extensive, longstanding, systemic and serious non-compliance with the AML/CTF Act and AML/CTF Rules.

AUSTRAC’s concerns included that CSCC had:

  • an inadequate AML/CTF Program
  • no transaction monitoring program
  • significantly deficient customer identification procedures.

CSCC is required to appoint an external auditor to assess the:

  • club’s compliance with certain AML/CTF obligations
  • club’s existing capacity to comply with certain AML/CTF obligations
  • steps needed to comply with their AML/CTF obligations.

The audit will help CSCC to identify, develop and implement the steps and procedures that would enable it to comply with the AML/CTF Act and AML/CTF Rules.

There is also a requirement to provide a copy of the audit report to AUSTRAC. It will be used to determine whether further enforcement action against CSCC is required.

AUSTRAC CEO Paul Jevtovic said that AUSTRAC will make use of the full suite of its powers.

“Businesses which fail to meet their AML/CTF obligations are not playing their part in protecting the Australian community from serious and organised crime.”

“AUSTRAC takes its role in combating money laundering and terrorism financing very seriously and AUSTRAC will not hesitate to take enforcement action where appropriate.”

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Ian Meikle, editor

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