Anglicare Australia has welcomed today’s announcement of further action on gambling reform, saying it reflects growing recognition of the scale of harm caused by gambling in Australia.
The organisation said new measures to ban gambling advertising in sports venues and cap ads on TV and radio broadcasts are important steps forward.
“These changes didn’t happen by accident. They are the result of years of sustained advocacy from people with lived experience, community organisations, and public health experts,” said Anglicare Australia Deputy Director Maiy Azize.
“We congratulate everyone who has worked so hard to get gambling reform on the agenda and to secure these wins.”
But Anglicare Australia warned that critical measures remain outstanding, and that the Government must go further to properly protect people, families and communities.
“Gambling harm is not a fringe issue. It is showing up every day in our services – in people who can’t pay the rent, who are in crisis, and who are dealing with the fallout in their families,” Ms Azize said.
“These harms are not just about individual behaviour. They are driven by how the system is designed with constant advertising, highly addictive products, and weak regulation.
“We cannot solve this problem while leaving the most harmful parts of the system untouched.
“We welcome this progress, but we will continue to push for the full set of reforms needed to reduce harm and protect communities.”
Anglicare Australia reiterated its call for:
- A phased, comprehensive ban on gambling advertising
- A ban on inducements and promotions
- The establishment of a national gambling regulator
- Stronger action on poker machines, including mandatory cashless systems
- Increased investment in support services for people experiencing harm.