Fantastic Fridays: How thousands of Australians can grab FREE $100 vouchers for lavish end-of-week dinners in the city – here’s everything you need to know
- Vouchers worth $100 set to be introduced to help businesses in Sydney’s CBD
- Investment is said to be worth a whopping $50million, and only valid on Fridays
- Eligibility criteria will mirror exceedingly popular Dine & Discover vouchers
Thousands of workers in Sydney’s CBD are set to end the week in style, with complimentary $100 vouchers for meals as part of a state government drive to get workers back into the city.
The significant investment, said to be worth $50million, is part of NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet’s quest to support struggling city lunch venues from surrounds including Surry Hills, Circular Quay and The Rocks.
It will also be part of Tuesday’s budget as the state government tries to entice professionals working from home back into town.
The revolutionary scheme will allow about 500,000 people to apply for the meal tickets.
Unlike the existing Dine & Discover vouchers in NSW, which have to be spent separately in four $25 installments, these vouchers can be used all at once – giving diners $100 off their bill.
Thousands of workers in Sydney’s CBD (pictured) are set to see out the week in style, with complimentary $100 vouchers for meals soon to be readily available for Fridays exclusively
The food vouchers – worth $100 – will only be applicable for businesses located within the 2000 postcode in Sydney’s CBD
The vouchers will only be valid on Fridays, and for businesses located near the 2000 postcode covering the central business district.
Eligibility criteria will mirror the exceedingly popular Dine & Discover vouchers introduced in April this year that are now expiring at the end of July instead of in two weeks’ time.
The aim is to encourage high volumes of people to start working from the office again in the Harbour City leading into the weekend.
‘It’s about making Friday’s fantastic and fun and at the same time helping the Sydney CBD which has been hit hardest by COVID with a reduction in CBD workers and the absence of overseas visitors for more than a year,’ he said.
‘This will be a targeted program designed to get more people back into the heart of the greatest city on earth and on the way through spend a little extra on retail and services businesses.’
Deputy Premier John Barilaro told Sunrise the government wanted to bring some buzz back to Sydney’s city centre and entice professionals who were working from home to return to the CBD.
‘We want to reactive the CBD. It’s hurting more than any other part of the state,’ he said.
‘Here’s a way to do it.’
Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello confirmed the vouchers will be available via the Service NSW app.
Non-digital voucher options will also be accepted by venues.
‘The program will be inclusive, with a non-digital option available to customers without a smartphone,’ Mr Dominello said.
The announcement of the food vouchers, said to be worth $50million, is part of NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet’s (pictured) quest to support struggling city lunch venues in Sydney’s CBD
Perrottet also stated the pending budget, his fifth, is the start of a pathway to get the state back on its feet financially.
He paid tribute to the people of NSW, labelling its workers ‘world leaders’ in their collective quest to see the state work through the pandemic and beyond.
Committee for Sydney chief executive Gabriel Metcalf said visiting a city restaurant during the day was a civic duty and hailed the voucher scheme.
‘I can’t think of a better Australian tradition to revive right now than the long lunch,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘In these tough economic times, it’s practically a civic duty.
‘Have one meal for yourself and one for the country.’