The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has announced an intensified collaboration with Pacific nations to tackle the rising threats of financial crime, including child sexual exploitation, the misuse of cryptocurrency, and transnational organized crime. In a statement, AUSTRAC emphasized the importance of working closely with Pacific partners to effectively detect and disrupt these evolving threats.
Key to this effort is the Pacific Financial Intelligence Community (PFIC), which connects financial intelligence units across the region, enabling data sharing and coordinated responses to criminal activity. AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas highlighted that without regional cooperation, the fight against financial crime would be significantly hampered. “Our Pacific neighbours play a strategically significant role in detecting and disrupting financial crime on our doorstep. That’s why we’re supporting them with the latest tools and intelligence,” he stated.
The urgency of the situation was underscored during the 2024 PFIC plenary held in Brisbane, where members agreed to prioritize efforts toward child sexual exploitation, transnational organized crime, and the criminal use of virtual assets and cryptocurrency in 2025. AUSTRAC noted that increased internet connectivity and access to mobile phones have led to a rise in online grooming and abuse across the Pacific, a development echoed by the U.S. National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, which reported a significant uptick in cases of online child exploitation in island nations.
In response, AUSTRAC and Papua New Guinea’s Financial Analysis and Supervision Unit (FASU) are set to launch an intelligence guide aimed at regional financial intelligence units, law enforcement, and financial institutions. This guide will equip these entities with the tools necessary to detect and trace money linked to offenders, with the launch scheduled for the upcoming PFIC plenary in Fiji.
Dr. John Moss, AUSTRAC’s Deputy CEO of Intelligence and PFIC co-chair, stressed the vital role financial institutions play in identifying and preventing abuse. “As financial crimes evolve, we need to stay ahead – and we can only do that together. Strong regional partnerships are at the heart of our work in the Pacific,” he said.
To bolster these efforts, AUSTRAC has implemented joint Multilateral Intelligence Projects with Pacific counterparts, focused on tracking cross-border crime and enhancing regional expertise. Regular training, including risk assessment webinars, is aiding national financial intelligence units in conducting comprehensive money laundering and terrorism financing assessments.
Technology also plays a crucial part in the response: AUSTRAC has shared its advanced TAIPAN financial intelligence system with ten Pacific countries, helping analysts identify suspicious transaction patterns. Events such as the “TAIPAN Games” are further enhancing the operational capacity of Pacific financial intelligence units.
Scheduled to commence on October 28 in Nadi, Fiji, the 2025 PFIC plenary is anticipated to be a platform for sharing insights and strengthening regional partnerships, as co-chair Caroline Pickering expressed enthusiasm for welcoming delegates from across the Pacific. “This year’s PFIC plenary is a vital opportunity to share insights, strengthen our partnerships, and drive meaningful outcomes that will enhance our collective response in combating financial crime,” she said.
With 15 financial intelligence units from countries including Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu working through PFIC, there is a strong collective commitment to ensuring the Pacific remains vigilant against rapidly changing financial crime threats. The ongoing collaborative efforts signal a hopeful future for the region as countries unite to combat these serious challenges.
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