Sanctions screening is separate from AML/CTF but operationally entangled. Australian persons (including companies) must not deal with designated persons or entities under the Autonomous Sanctions Act and the Charter of the United Nations Act. AML platforms typically screen against several lists at once.
What you must check
- DFAT Consolidated List — Australia's primary autonomous sanctions register.
- UN Security Council Consolidated List — incorporated into Australian law.
- Department of Foreign Affairs counter-terrorism listings.
What you should usually also check
- OFAC SDN List (US) — relevant for any USD-denominated transaction or US-touching counterparty.
- UK OFSI Consolidated List — relevant for any GBP transaction.
- EU Consolidated List — relevant for European counterparties.
Modern screening platforms run all of these in a single query. The cost difference between Australia-only and full multi-jurisdiction screening is typically A$50/month for an SME — not worth the saving.