Money laundering a real 'threat' | National News | Breaking National News in Australia

Daniel Pace | 10th July 2009

AAP

AUSTRALIAN Federal Police chief Mick Keelty says money laundering still presents a significant threat in the Asia-Pacific region.

The annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) wound up in Brisbane on Friday after a week of talks involving 300 officials from 40 countries.

Mr Keelty, who co-chairs the APG, said cooperation between nations was crucial to fighting the financing of terrorism and crime.

"Money laundering and the financing of terrorism continue to present significant threats in the region," Mr Keelty said.

"These crimes require active and ongoing attention."

APG co-chair, senior Singapore government official Ong Hian Sun, said the meeting had helped "strengthen the global resolve to fight these ever-increasing transnational crimes".

A public report will be released later this year rating small Pacific nations' ability to meet global standards in the fight against organised crime and terrorism.

But officials on Friday declined to publicly shame those nations dragging the chain.

"We can't tell you which countries in particular (aren't up to the global standards)," said Neil Jensen, chief executive of the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC).

"We're working together as a forum to make sure everyone meets the standards.

"I think importantly the message is we need to deter the financing of terrorism.

"We have a group of 40 member countries here who are working towards that cause.

"It's important for all countries to put into place the global standards because if they don't, it leaves the door open and makes them vulnerable to money laundering or terrorism financing."

APG executive secretary Gordon Hook admitted there were "weaknesses" in Pacific islands' systems but denied the region was a hub for terrorist activity.

"There are weaknesses in the Pacific Island jurisdictions," he said.

"A lot of donors such as the IMF (International Monetary Fund), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are offering technical assistance and training to close the gaps within those jurisdictions.

"There's a lot of success in doing that."

The meeting endorsed reports evaluating anti-laundering measures in Bangladesh, the Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, Japan, Korea and the Cook Islands.

Dr Hook said over the past decade the Cook Islands had emerged as a leader in the battle against terrorism funding and money laundering.

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