We Now Have A Timeline For Those $100 Dining And Entertainment Vouchers From The NSW Government
The toll Covid and subsequent lockdowns have taken on the hospitality industry is no joke. It’s more important than ever to start supporting your locals, if you’re in the position to be able to.
So important, in fact, that the NSW Government has announced an initiative to would hand out $50 dining and entertainment vouchers to singles and $100 vouchers to families (all over 18 years of age) to spend at their favourite restaurants.
First reported by The Australian, the approximately $500 million scheme is part of the state’s budget plan. Originally called ‘Out and About’ but now named ‘Dine and Discover’ — the idea is to get us all back out onto the scene, pumping much needed money back into businesses.
In an interview with 2GB’s Ben Fordham back in November 2020, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian explained they were still finalising the budget, but they wanted to help.
“We are still putting finishing touches on the budget,” she said. “But I want (people) to be assured of one thing … we get how tough it is for a lot of people at the moment”.
“We’re hoping to take care of everybody who’s going through those difficult times”.
Now it’s official, although exact dates still haven’t been given. What we do know is that The Rocks in Sydney and Broken Hill over in the west will trial the scheme first. The vouchers will then be rolled out to the Sydney CBD, northern beaches area and Bega Valley towards the end of February, with a plan to go statewide in March.
I’m no politician (shocker), but I am bloody good at eating, so I’ve been making my list of where to spend that money first for months now.
Perhaps I’ll give those Birra Tacos taking over my social feeds a go. Or pick one of my favourite rooftop bars in Sydney, seeing as it’s summer and all.
(Lead Image: Unsplash / Dan Gold)