INTHEBLACK

HECS transformed access to higher education in Australia and became one of the country's most influential public policy innovations.

But nearly four decades on, rising student debt, indexation concerns and changing graduate outcomes are raising fresh questions about whether the system still works as intended.

This episode examines the origins of the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS), and how its income-contingent loan model influenced education funding around the world.

It also explores the challenges facing the system today and the policy choices that could shape its future.

Key points covered:

• Why HECS was introduced and the problem it was designed to solve

• How income-contingent loans changed access to university

• How much today's HECS has changed from its original design

• Assessing the Job-ready Graduates program in 2020

• Whether rising student debt is undermining the original policy goals

• The impact of indexation and changing fee structures

• Potential reforms and what they could mean for students and taxpayers

Tune in now.

Host: Tahn Sharpe, editor, CPA Australia

Guest: Bruce Chapman, architect of HECS and emeritus professor of Economics at ANU.

You can learn more about Bruce Chapman at his website.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. Head to our podcast page CPA Australia - YouTube

And of course, click subscribe to the channel today.

We deliver regular content that will help boost your career skills and capabilities.

Additionally, INTHEBLACK online has stories on a variety of accounting, finance and business topics.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts

INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack

INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud

Excel Tips Excel Tips | CPA Australia

With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

This publication provides general information only and is not legal or professional advice. CPA Australia gives no warranties as to its accuracy, completeness or suitability and disclaims all liability for reliance on it. Listeners should seek their own independent advice for their circumstances.

What does Australia's biggest AML (anti-money laundering) reform in years mean for accountants, lawyers, advisers and business owners?

This episode breaks down the tranche 2 anti-money laundering reforms, the growing role of AUSTRAC, and why professional service firms are becoming critical gatekeepers in the fight against financial crime.

The discussion explores how money laundering really works, why criminals target trusted advisers, and the practical steps businesses need to take to prepare for new compliance obligations.

Main learnings:

• Why Australia is expanding AML reporting obligations

• How accountants and lawyers help identify suspicious activity

• What suspicious matter reporting involves in practice

• Why knowing your customer is central to AML compliance

• The role of AUSTRAC as regulator and intelligence agency

• Common red flags linked to financial crime and tax evasion

• How smaller businesses can approach AML compliance practically

This episode offers practical guidance for accounting, finance and advisory professionals navigating Australia's evolving AML landscape.

Listen now.

Host: Jacqueline Blondell, editor, CPA Australia

Experts:

• Brendan Thomas, AUSTRAC CEO

• Geoff Peck, a former fraud squad detective with Victoria Police's major Fraud Group, and managing director Forensic & Integrity Solutions

• Amanda Wood, managing director, Kroll's Investigations, Diligence and Compliance Practice

For more, head to the Australian Institute of Criminology website.

Need help with your AML/CTF obligations? AUSTRAC and CPA Australia have a host of resources.

AUSTRAC's guidance for small business is another useful resource.

And head to the Crime By Numbers homepage to catch up on earlier eps in this second series as well as series 1.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts

And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting:

With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest

INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack

INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud

Excel Tips https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

Chapters:

00:00 Disclaimer

00:21 The social purpose of anti-money laundering

00:45 Introduction to Crime By Numbers Episode 3

01:28 AUSTRAC's role in Australia's AML/CTF regime

02:44 History of money laundering laws and Tranche 2 reforms

03:22 Why Australia is catching up with global AML standards

04:20 Why accountants and lawyers see risks banks can't

05:23 Core obligations for new AML gatekeepers: KYC and reporting

07:05 Comparing Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 compliance challenges

08:15 Embedding AML compliance into professional practices

09:37 Knowing your customer and hidden criminal risk

11:03 Business benefits of stronger AML processes

11:37 Common misconceptions about money laundering and cash

12:39 AUSTRAC guidance, starter kits, and industry support

14:29 Enforcement approach, penalties, and expectations

15:13 The real victims behind money laundering crimes

16:32 Resources for new gatekeepers and closing remarks

This publication provides general information only and is not legal or professional advice. CPA Australia gives no warranties as to its accuracy, completeness or suitability and disclaims all liability for reliance on it. Listeners should seek their own independent advice for their circumstances.

Ever wondered how criminal money moves through today's financial systems?

The answer is more complex today than ever before.

This episode explores the networks, tactics and technologies reshaping money laundering across the world.

From romance scams and money mules to crypto and the metaverse, gain practical insight into how organised crime adapts to digital finance and global markets.

You will learn:

• How money mules are recruited and used in laundering operations

• Why romance scams are still one of the fastest-growing financial crimes

• How hawala dealers move money across borders without physical transfers

• The role of jewellery, food, real estate and sport in laundering activity

• Why cryptocurrency is creating new compliance and detection challenges

• How criminals are exploiting virtual worlds and the metaverse

Listen now.

Host: Jacqueline Blondell, editor, CPA Australia

Experts:

• Kris Wilson, from the Australian Federal Police's Joint Policing Cyber Crime Coordination Centre

• Brendan Thomas, AUSTRAC CEO

• Dr Milind Tiwari, senior lecturer the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security at Charles Sturt University in Canberra

• Geoff Peck, a former fraud squad detective with Victoria Police's major Fraud Group, and managing director Forensic & Integrity Solutions

For more, head to the Australian Institute of Criminology website.

Need help with your AML/CTF obligations? AUSTRAC and CPA Australia have a host of resources.

Stay tuned for episode three coming soon where we look at the new gatekeepers being recruited to join the fight against money laundering.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts

And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting:

With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest

INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack

INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud

Excel Tips https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected] Chapters:

00:00 Disclaimer

00:20 Could the metaverse and crypto become the next money laundering frontier?

00:43 Welcome to Crime by Numbers Episode 2

01:18 How do fake businesses, cash and invoices help launder money?

02:23 Why are accountants, lawyers, and gold dealers money laundering gatekeepers?

03:36 What is Hawala, and how does it move money without crossing borders?

05:22 How is soccer used for money laundering?

05:53 Why is the food industry vulnerable to money laundering and food fraud?

08:31 What crimes most commonly drive money laundering in Australia?

10:03 What is a money mule, and how are people recruited?

13:34 Why are crypto ATMs a growing money laundering risk?

14:40 Why does cryptocurrency make money laundering harder to detect?

15:26 How could the metaverse enable money laundering in the future?

16:54 What's next: who are the new gatekeepers fighting money laundering?

This publication provides general information only and is not legal or professional advice. CPA Australia gives no warranties as to its accuracy, completeness or suitability and disclaims all liability for reliance on it. Listeners should seek their own independent advice for their circumstances.

Money laundering.

It's a business that's rife worldwide, with billions of dollars illegally laundered each year.

In Australia it's estimated that money laundering costs the economy A$60 billion a year.

In 2026, money laundering is under the microscope because Australia's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Regime is being expanded.

New gatekeepers are being added to the mix to fight against this crime, including accountants, lawyers, real estate agents and dealers in precious metals and gems.

In this second series of Crime by Numbers, delve into the murky depths of the world's laundromat.

Episode one goes inside the laundry and explores why money laundering is so harmful, the far-reaching costs to individuals and economies and what we can do to clean it up.

Listen now.

Host: Jacqueline Blondell, editor, CPA Australia

Experts:

• Geoff Peck, a former fraud squad detective with Victoria Police's major Fraud Group, and managing director, Forensic & Integrity Solutions

• Brendan Thomas, AUSTRAC CEO

• Amanda Wood, managing director, Kroll's Investigations, Diligence and Compliance Practice

• Dr Milind Tiwari, senior lecturer the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security at Charles Sturt University in Canberra

• Kris Wilson, team leader, Cybercrime Investigations at Australian Federal Police

For more, head to the Australian Institute of Criminology website.

Need help with your AML/CTF obligations? AUSTRAC and CPA Australia have a host of resources.

In the next episode of Crime by Numbers, discover how money mules such as Boliang Liu operate and the scams that lie behind the money laundering process.

Also, hear how the metaverse is transforming money laundering and making the detection process a lot trickier.

Stay tuned for episode two coming soon: The players and the crimes.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts

And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting:

With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest

INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack

INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud

Excel Tips https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

Chapters

00:00 Disclaimer

00:22 How much dirty money is in the Australian economy?

00:43 What is money laundering and why does it matter?

01:16 Inside the Laundry: episode overview

01:33 The history of money laundering from ancient China to Prohibition

01:57 Where did the term "money laundering" come from?

03:39 What does money laundering cost the global and Australian economy?

04:22 Which crimes generate the most laundered money in Australia?

04:43 AUSTRAC explained: who it regulates and why reforms are expanding

05:15 Brendan Thomas on dirty money in Australia

05:54 Is money laundering a victimless crime?

07:36 How fraud against government programs like the NDIS links to money laundering

09:17 How money laundering works: placement, layering and integration

10:24 Real case study: how $60 million moved through global bank accounts

12:25 Shell companies and money laundering red flags

13:45 Bank capture, major AML failures and billion-dollar fines

14:52 Operation Taipan: how Australian banks helped detect a laundering syndicate

16:07 Next episode: money mules, scams and the metaverse

Layne Beachley AO has done it all in the sporting arena – she's a seven-time world surfing champion, after all.

And through her incredible journey, she's learned powerful mindset strategies that could help you today.

And it's not what you might think.

Drawing on her experience as a sporting great, Layne connects elite sport principles to the realities of accounting and finance, offering practical ways to manage stress, sustain energy and make clearer decisions in demanding roles.

And you can apply these habits to your own work life in finance and accounting to improve your performance, focus and resilience – in other words, to help bring out the best version of you.

In this special episode, Layne also shares how her 7% rule helps professionals reset, refocus and perform under pressure.

Other key learnings include:

• Practical ways to reset your nervous system during the workday

• The importance of mental health and how to switch off

• What success actually looks like

• How to deal with pressure when you're busy at home and at work

• How leaders can embed resilience into team culture

• The one thing accountants and CFOs can take away from this episode

Layne brings a unique perspective from elite sport, translating high-performance habits into practical actions you can apply immediately.

Tune in now for elite insights into how you can make improvements to your daily work habits.

Host: Tahn Sharpe, Editor, CPA Australia

Guests: Layne Beachley, a seven-time world surfing champion, widely regarded as one of the greatest surfers of all time. She's also a high-performance mindset coach, helping professionals translate elite sporting principles into everyday success.

Layne Beachley will be speaking at CPA Week 2026 in June.

And head online for more about Layne Beachley's Awake Academy.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. Go to our podcast page CPA Australia - YouTube

And of course, click subscribe to the channel today.

We deliver regular content that will help boost your career skills and capabilities.

Additionally, INTHEBLACK online has stories on everyday ethics issues.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts

INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack

INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud

Excel Tips Excel Tips | CPA Australia

With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest

Search for them in your favourite podcast platform.

Email the podcast team at [email protected]

As accountants, conflicts of interest can arise. Some say they are unavoidable.

But knowing how to manage them is crucial.

This episode explores how such conflicts arise – from client relationships to commercial pressures – and why managing them is critical to upholding trust in the profession.

You will learn:

• why conflicts of interest are increasing in today's business environment

• the most common conflict of interest scenarios facing accountants and advisers

• when disclosure is not enough and stronger action is needed

• how to distinguish between manageable and unacceptable conflicts

• practical frameworks to identify and assess conflicts in real time

• the role of professional judgement and organisational culture

Drawing on the current codes of ethics and the everyday ethics issues discussed in INTHEBLACK, this expert-led discussion focuses on practical decision-making in situations that are rarely clear cut.

This episode will help you respond with confidence and integrity.

Tune in now.

Host: Tahn Sharpe, Editor, CPA Australia

Guests: Dr Michelle Cull FCPA, Associate Professor and Head of Discipline, Accounting and Financial Planning at Western Sydney University, and Belinda Zohrab, Regulation and Professional Standards Lead, CPA Australia

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. Head to our podcast page CPA Australia - YouTube

And of course, click subscribe to the channel today.

We deliver regular content that will help boost your career skills and capabilities.

Additionally, INTHEBLACK online has stories on everyday ethics issues.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts

INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack

INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud

Excel Tips Excel Tips | CPA Australia

With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

AI is reshaping finance faster than most accounting and finance organisations are prepared for.

This episode explores what that means in practice and how professionals can stay relevant as roles evolve.

From automation and agentic AI to cybersecurity risks and sustainability pressures, this expert-led discussion highlights the shifts happening across finance, accounting and business in a volatile and rapidly changing world.

You will learn:

• The biggest forces changing the profession right now

• What AI fluency looks like in practice and why it matters now

• The emerging technologies or trends reshaping how finance teams work

• How finance roles are evolving towards judgement and decision making

• The impact of automation on career pathways and hiring patterns

• Practical steps to future-proof your career capability in a reshaped profession

Listen now.

Host: Patrick Viljoen, sustainability lead, CPA Australia

Guests: Amantha Imber an innovation specialist and Anders Sormann-Nilsson, a futurist and keynote speaker.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. Head to our podcast page CPA Australia - YouTube

And of course, click subscribe to the channel today. We deliver regular content that will help boost your career skills and capabilities.

You can also head to INTHEBLACK online for 10 accounting trends reshaping the profession and other insightful articles celebrating 140 years of the designation in our special April edition.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts

INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack

INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud

Excel Tips Excel Tips | CPA Australia

With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

Accounting has evolved dramatically, but its core purpose stays unchanged - enabling trust and better decision-making.

In this episode, hosted by Australian comedian Lehmo, learn how the profession has moved from manual record keeping to a strategic role centred on judgement, governance and value creation.

Additionally, explore why AI is transforming tools rather than replacing expertise.

Key learnings from this episode:

• How accounting has evolved from bookkeeping to strategic decision support

• Why trust, integrity and governance sit at the centre of the profession

• How global crises have expanded the role of accountants over time

• The shift from financial data to broader enterprise data responsibilities

• Why AI enhances accounting rather than replacing it

• The growing importance of professional scepticism in an AI-driven world

• How accountants can contribute to AI governance and auditing

• Why communication and judgement remain critical skills

• What the next generation of accountants needs to succeed

Listen now for more.

Host: Anthony "Lehmo" Lehmann, popular Australian comedian

Guests:

Dr Jasvinder Sidhu, accounting academic and historian

Kaushika Jayalath CPA, principal solutions consultant, Oracle, and a CPA Australia board member

Head to Lehmo's site for more information on his services.

And learn more about this episode's guests Kaushika Jayalath CPA and Dr Jasvinder Sidhu at his staff profile.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube.

And don't forget to click subscribe on the channel.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:

With Interest

INTHEBLACK

INTHEBLACK Out Loud

Excel Tips

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

Gain a clear view of where the Australian and Asia-Pacific economies are heading and what it all means for finance leaders in 2026.

The headlines say volatility. The data tells a more nuanced story.

Inflation, interest rates, productivity and more are all explained in plain terms, translating macroeconomic signals into what matters for business leaders today.

Listen for an expert view of:

• The economic cycle that Australia and APAC are entering

• The likely direction of interest rates over the next 12 months

• Which indicators matter most when tracking inflation

• The key skill you need to help you prepare for the year ahead

These insights will help you understand where the Australian and APAC economies are heading, and how this may influence decision-making this year.

Host: Tahn Sharpe, editor INTHEBLACK, CPA Australia

Guest: Paul Bloxham, chief economist, Australia, New Zealand and global commodities, HSBC

To read online articles by Paul Bloxham, head to his news page on the AFR.

For more economic insights visit INTHEBLACK https://intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au/economy

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube, where you can subscribe to the channel for regular content.

And don't forget to subscribe to INTHEBLACK and share this episode with your colleagues and friends in the business community.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:

With Interest

INTHEBLACK

INTHEBLACK Out Loud

Excel Tips

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

What do you do when there is no playbook?

Many finance leaders have built their careers on accuracy, clarity and control. But today's operating climate is defined by uncertainty rather than stability.

Market turbulence, rapid advances in AI, organisational redesign and ongoing talent constraints are converging at the same time.

In this context, success depends on more than just IQ or EQ. It now also hinges on your adaptability quotient (AQ).

In this episode, explore how finance professionals can build the capability to work confidently through ambiguity while preserving the discipline and standards that underpin strong accounting practice.

You will learn:

• the difference between adaptability quotient (AQ) and adaptive leadership

• why change feels harder today and how complexity affects performance

• how to use the observation, interpretation and intervention model

• practical ways to avoid common thinking traps such as catastrophising and blame

• how to create psychological safety without lowering standards

• tools such as the balcony and dance floor perspective and the productive zone of disequilibrium.

If you want to strengthen resilience, improve decision-making and lead confidently through uncertainty, this episode offers practical steps you can apply immediately.

Host: Tahn Sharpe, Editor, CPA Australia.

Guests: Catherine Althaus, professor at UNSW Canberra, and Kathryn McEwen, organisational psychologist.

For more information, head to Kathryn McEwen's website.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube.

And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting:

With Interest

INTHEBLACK

INTHEBLACK Out Loud

Excel Tips

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]