Money laundering and terrorist financing, also referred to jointly as financial crime, have given rise to an extensive legal and regulatory regime across much of the developed world. Banks and other regulated businesses monitor and report their customers' activities to law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement agencies, in turn, sift through a myriad such reports to identify truly criminal behavior and benefit from an ever-expanding array of tools at their disposal to confiscate the proceeds of crime (or funds intended for terrorist use).
Over the past decades, the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) regime has come to play an important yet controversial role in criminal justice and financial regulation alike. This role is particularly prominent because money laundering can involve the proceeds of any predicate offense, ranging from drug trafficking to cybercrime, which accounts for the increasingly central role of AML/CTF measures in criminal justice.
The principal objective of this course is to introduce students to key concepts, principles, legal and practical challenges, and policy debates in AML/CTF. These include:
- The scale of the problem and the effectiveness of AML/CTF measures;
- The relationship between money laundering and terrorist financing;
- Key obligations of regulated businesses, including financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) and virtual asset service providers (VASPs);
- The operation of the suspicious transaction/activity/matter reporting regime;
- The role of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and FATF style regional bodies;
- The impact of technological developments on AML/CTF policies, including the impact of cybercrime and virtual assets.
The course will be of particular relevance to those interested in criminal justice, especially in the fields of organised crime or white-collar crime, or financial regulation. The course will focus principally on Australian law as well as the FATF Recommendations, a set of international standards that de facto shapes domestic AML/CTF regimes, including in Australia.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Critically analyse the role of AML/CTF measures in a broader criminal justice context
- Evaluate the objectives of the AML/CTF regime and its suitability to achieving those objectives
- Assess key areas of legal and policy reform in Australia's and global AML/CTF frameworks
- Research major developments that affect the effectiveness of AML/CTF measures
Indicative Assessment
- The proposed means of assessment for this course will provide students with at least two pieces of assessment, including one piece during the semester. More information about the means of assessment, including the relationship between the assessment and the learning outcomes of the course, will be available in the Class Summary and on the course WATTLE page. (100) [LO null]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
Classes offered in non-standard sessions will be taught semi-intensively with compulsory contact hours of approximately 26 hours of face to face teaching. The course will also require advanced preparation through assigned readings. In total, it is anticipated that the hours required for completion of this course (class preparation, teaching and completion of assessment) will not exceed 120 hours.
Classes offered during semester periods are expected to have three contact hours per week. Students are generally expected to devote at least 10 hours overall per week to this course. In total, it is anticipated that the hours required for completion of this course (class preparation, teaching and completion of assessment) will not exceed 120 hours.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Students must rely on the approved Class Summary which will be posted to the Programs and Courses site approximately two weeks prior to the commencement of the course. Alternatively, this information will be published in the Program course list when known.
Preliminary Reading
Students must rely on the approved Class Summary which will be posted to the Programs and Courses site approximately two weeks prior to the commencement of the course. Alternatively, this information will be published in the Program course list when known.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 34
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4980 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6360 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Winter Session
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6530 | 22 Jul 2024 | 09 Aug 2024 | 09 Aug 2024 | 26 Sep 2024 | Online | N/A |
