News and Media
Here you’ll find news, announcements, and media releases from ACTCOSS and the Gulanga Program, along with major community sector news.
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ACT government needs to step up its response to gambling harm
The non-profit community sector plays an essential role in helping people and families affected by gambling harms to rebuild their lives. Harms from gambling add to the workload of a wide range of services provided by the community sector. The community sector is stretched to the breaking point by these gambling harms. To the ACT […]
ACTCOSS welcomes new moves to reduce harm from gambling
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed a significant step by the ACT Government towards reducing gambling harm by in the Canberra community. This follows today’s release by ACT Greens Leader and Attorney General Shane Rattenbury MLA of a discussion paper outlining the proposed changes to reduce harm from gambling for community consultation. […]
ACT Government introduces new surrender initiative to cut down number of pokies
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed a new initiative aimed at reducing the reliance of Canberra’s community clubs on revenues from EGMs (Electronic Gaming Machines) or ‘pokies’. The initiative, announced by ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury MLA, will pay Canberra’s community clubs $15,000 for each gaming machine authorisation surrendered. The payment will […]
Media Release: Gambling Harm Awareness Week 2021
This week is Gambling Harm Awareness Week 2021 which provides an opportunity for people to talk openly about what gambling harm is, what can be done to prevent it, and how to support those affected by it. ACTCOSS is a member of the Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance (CGRA). As Gambling Harm Awareness Week 2021 comes […]
Media release: ACTCOSS supports ban on credit card gambling payments
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has made a submission to the Australian Federal Parliament calling on all parties to act to protect Australians from gambling harm by restricting the use of credit cards for online gambling. ACTCOSS and the Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance (CGRA) made this plea through their submissions to the Senate […]
Joint media release: Time for action on gambling harm
ACTCOSS and Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance joint media release. This Gambling Harm Awareness Week, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has joined with the Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance (CGRA) to call on the incoming ACT Government to urgently act on gambling harm in the ACT. ACTCOSS CEO Dr Emma Campbell said: “The ACT has […]
Media release: Let’s seize this chance for action on gambling harm
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed a policy announcement by the ACT Greens to cap pokies bets at $5 to reduce gambling harm. Dr Emma Campbell, ACTCOSS CEO, said: “The call from the ACT Greens for all pokies bets to have a $5 bet limit and a $100 load limit is a […]