Category Archives: Blog

Latest gambling reform media stories and Taskforce statements, filed chronologically.

Inquiry into the Prevention and Treatment of Problem Gambling

Hearings commenced this week in relation to the Senate Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform’s Inquiry into the Prevention and Treatment of Problem Gambling. Mark Henley, Mark Zirnsak and Brad Halse attended on behalf of the Taskforce in Melbourne this … Continue reading

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New England Churches back poker machine reform

ACGT Media Release Local Churches in Federal electorate of New England in New South Wales have given a thousand signed postcards to local federal member, Tony Windsor, in a show of solidarity for poker machine reform. New South Wales Churches … Continue reading

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The twisted logic of pokie reform

Charles Livingstone, The Drum, ABC It’s been a few weeks since the Gillard Government backflipped on its agreement with Andrew Wilkie to introduce pokie reform. In retrospect, and with the benefit of hindsight, it seems that the main lesson to … Continue reading

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Wilkie resists poker machine trial: Tim Costello

ABC Radio National: Breakfast ACGT Chair Tim Costello talks to Fran Kelly on Radio National Breakfast about the current poker machine reform situation Independent MP Andrew Wilkie says that he may oppose legislation enabling a trial of mandatory pre-commitment technology … Continue reading

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Poker machines gulp $149,000 a day

Benjamin Millar, Andria Cozza, Melton Weekly MELTON gamblers are losing almost $149,000 a day in poker machines, according to new figures. Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation data shows the area’s gamblers poured more than $54 million into the … Continue reading

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Brimbank pokie losses top $140 million

Benjamin Millar, Brimbank Weekly BRIMBANK gamblers cemented the area as the state’s biggest pokies loser last year, losing almost $400,000 a day. New figures from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) reveal the area’s gamblers lost more … Continue reading

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Labor to release draft bill on pokies reform

Jessica Wright, Richard Willingham, The Sydney Morning Herald The first draft of the government’s poker machine reforms legislation will be released today and comes a day after local clubs in the ACT agreed, in principle, to host a year-long trial … Continue reading

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History books will show the folly of being slaves to the pokie lobby

Tim Costello, The Sydney Morning Herald William Wilberforce’s fight to end slavery was morally unambiguous. There is no serving politician who believes they would have been on the wrong side of that debate. But they are wrong. Like the end … Continue reading

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My life as a pokies addict: I lost everything I loved

David Sygall, The Sydney Morning Herald Regardless of any political fix, the misery persists. One woman who seemed to have it all talks to David Sygall. Even now, more than 10 years after the ordeal began, Kaye* can’t quite get … Continue reading

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Poker Machine Reform will continue

ACGT Media Release Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce Chair Rev Tim Costello said today’s decision to postpone poker machine reform has dealt a harsh blow to some of Australia’s most vulnerable citizens. Speaking shortly after the Prime Minister’s announcement, Rev Costello … Continue reading

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