Thousands of NSW residents to bag ANOTHER free $100 voucher to revive Sydney in Covid stimulus

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Hundreds of thousands of Australians are set to be given another free $100 voucher to help revive Sydney’s hotel industry as it emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian is expected to announce on Thursday 200,000 vouchers will be made available to the state’s residents from June as part of a $51.5million stimulus package.

The vouchers will be eligible for use in hotels across the Sydney CBD and accessed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Thursday’s measures come as the NSW government’s $100 Dine & Discover hospitality vouchers become available to millions by the end of March.

200,000 vouchers will be accessible to NSW residents from June as part of a $51.5million stimulus package

200,000 vouchers will be accessible to NSW residents from June as part of a $51.5million stimulus package

The state government is also expected on Thursday to reveal stimulus measures for live music events – one of the few social settings in NSW which have remained heavily restricted by social distancing rules.

Other stimulus measures set to be announced this week include a $5million injection for business industry events and $2million for the ailing tourism sector. 

Ms Berejiklian said this week weddings and dancing could be enjoyed in unlimited numbers from next Monday as part of the latest round of restriction easing.

‘With international and business travellers virtually non-existent for the past year, the CBD, and in ­particular the accommodation industry has done it tough,’ Ms Berejiklian said.  

‘This new program will be in addition to our other stimulus measures such as the Dine and Discover scheme and will provide a boost to accom­modation providers in what is a traditionally very quiet ­period.’ 

The $500million Dine and Discover initiative is designed to pump money into bars, restaurants and entertainment venues, and has so far been trialled in Sydney’s The Rocks, Northern Beaches and in Bega Valley and Broken Hill in regional NSW. 

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is expected to announce the new measures in a press conference on Thursday

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is expected to announce the new measures in a press conference on Thursday

Vouchers will be eligible to be used in hotels across the Sydney CBD and accessed on a first-come, first-serve basis

 Vouchers will be eligible to be used in hotels across the Sydney CBD and accessed on a first-come, first-serve basis

Everyone in NSW will be able to access the freebies regardless of their postcode by the end of March, with dozens of postcodes already eligible from Friday.

Two $25 vouchers are available to spend at restaurants, cafes, bars, wineries, pubs and clubs seven days a week, excluding public holidays.

A further two $25 vouchers can be used for entertainment and recreation, including museums, live music and theatre.

Customer services minister Victor Dominello said the vouchers would be accessible from the Service NSW app, and downloadable as a QR code, which can then presented to businesses enrolled in the program. 

Ms Berejiklian described the initiative as a win-win for everyone.

‘For too long because of Covid, we haven’t been able to support these business, so it’s a win for citizens and a win for businesses as it boosts their ability to receive people again as we move through Covid,’ she told reporters on Friday.

All NSW residents will be able to access $100 worth of free Dine & Discover vouchers by the end of March. Pictured are diners at a Sydney bar

All NSW residents will be able to access $100 worth of free Dine & Discover vouchers by the end of March. Pictured are diners at a Sydney bar

‘It also allows up to open up the economy as the more dollars that go into the economy allows us to grow in the future to create and protect jobs because so many people were displaced because of Covid.’

Ms Berejiklian added the government was ‘overwhelmingly satisfied’ with the early success of the initiative. 

Vouchers will become available in more local government areas in the coming days. 

Two of the $25 Dine & Discover vouchers can be spent on entertainment, including art galleries. Pictured are recent visitors at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney

Two of the $25 Dine & Discover vouchers can be spent on entertainment, including art galleries. Pictured are recent visitors at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney

Customers will receive an email letting them know when it’s their turn to apply for their vouchers, or they can use a simple eligibility checker online.

To check if you’re eligible, log onto Service NSW and click on the ‘vouchers’ section.

You then input your address to see if your area is included, but all postcodes will be able to apply by the end of March. 

A non-digital alternative will be available for customers who don’t have a smartphone or compatible device.

HOW DOES DINE & DISCOVER NSW WORK? 

NSW residents aged 18 years and over can apply for $100 in vouchers. The vouchers can be used at participating NSW businesses registered as COVID safe.

2 x $25 Dine NSW Vouchers for dining in at restaurants, cafes, bars, wineries, pubs and clubs from Monday to Thursday

2 x $25 Discover NSW Vouchers to be used for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music, and arts venues, to use 7 days a week.

The vouchers can’t be used on public holidays.

Dine & Discover NSW Vouchers are single use, and cannot be used for tobacco, alcohol or gambling. If you use less than the $25 value of the voucher, the remaining value is forfeited and may not be used later nor reimbursed by the business.

Vouchers must be redeemed in person at participating businesses.

 

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