Salvation Army Leads Gambling Reform Advocacy Push
The Salvation Army Australia has led a joint parliamentary advocacy campaign with Anglicare Australia, St Vincent de Paul Society and UnitingCare Australia to raise awareness of gambling harm and push for stronger consumer protections, according to a Salvos Online account published September 17, 2026, written by Policy and Advocacy Advisor Emily Seiler.
The campaign responds to the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, currently before the Australian Parliament.
While the four organisations acknowledged the bill represents a step towards reform, they said it does not adequately address the scale of gambling harm in the country.
Parliamentary Engagement Day Held in August
A key part of the campaign was a parliamentary engagement day at Australian Parliament House on August 12, 2026, where the four organisations invited MPs and senators to meet directly with frontline workers and volunteers supporting people affected by gambling harm.
The groups attended 17 meetings that day, with further meetings with MPs, senators and their advisors held online and in person at Parliament House in subsequent weeks, according to Seiler's account.
Frontline Services See Harm Beyond Financial Loss
The Salvation Army said its frontline services, including emergency relief, financial counselling, homelessness support and youth and community programs, regularly see severe financial hardship, relationship breakdown, mental ill-health and social isolation linked to gambling harm.
"Gambling harm is more than financial loss and is a contributing factor in the lives of many people who engage with our frontline services," Seiler wrote, describing the organisation's Moneycare financial counselling work as part of the evidence base behind the advocacy push.
Charities Push for Evidence-Based Policy
The Salvation Army said the campaign reinforced its commitment to evidence-based policy solutions intended to reduce gambling harm and strengthen community wellbeing. The organisation is continuing to engage with decision-makers as the bill moves through the legislative process.
Australians seeking support for gambling-related harm can contact the Salvation Army's Moneycare service or the national Gambling Help Online service, alongside checking licensed operator standards via Gambling.com's Australian betting sites guide.
