NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced that NSW residents will be able to access an extra $50 to spend at cafes and restaurants as the successful “Dine & Discover” vouchers scheme has been extended. 

The announcement has coincided with the states decision to proceed with reopening as a result of the 80 percent double-dose-vaccination target about to be met.  

Mr. Perrottet outlined to the media that the decision to expand the “Dine & Discover” vouchers program will support residents across the state and encourage economic activity as part of the government’s economic recovery strategy. 

“From Byron to Bega and Bellingen to Broken Hill, this is about supporting people to get out and have a meal or spend the day discovering their city while supporting businesses across NSW,” said NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. 

Echoing the beliefs of the Premier, Matt Kean the NSW Treasurer believes that the extra $250 million investment by the NSW government would help businesses recover from months of restrictions and encourage people to enjoy what they love most. 

“We experienced the success of the Dine & Discover program when we reopened last time, which is why we are doubling down efforts with an additional two $25 vouchers – one for Dine and one for Discover venues. We are backing our businesses and helping hip pockets by expanding the program, in addition to extending existing vouchers until the end of June 2022,” said NSW Treasurer Matt Kean. 

How to Access The Extra Vouchers 

NSW residents will be given access to the additional vouchers via the Service NSW app, the same way that previous vouchers have been able to be accessed. 

The NSW Government revealed that the vouchers will appear on the app before the start of summer, but are yet to provide an exact date for when they will come into effect.  

If you are unable to see the vouchers in your app after they become available, you can contact Service NSW and they will send the vouchers to you. 

Since being launched in March this year, close to 4.8 million residents have taken advantage of the voucher scheme. Overall since it’s inception the scheme has given NSW businesses a boost of up to $430 million. 

NSW residents who are over the age of 18 and are yet to apply, you can still apply and receive six $25 vouchers. 

Businesses who are participating in the scheme don’t have to reapply. Businesses who want to join the program are encouraged to register, download the scanner app and get ready to redeem. 

Covid Disaster Payments In NSW and ACT Have Been Discontinued 

Residents of NSW and the ACT who have been receiving Covid-19 Disaster Payments have been told that their payments were officially discontinued on Friday 8^th October 2021. The discontinuation comes as the two jurisdictions both reached the 70 percent vaccination threshold target.  

In an update made on Friday 8^th October 2021, Services Australia confirmed that the payments have automatically “stopped”, with recipients now required to apply every week to claim the $750 payments. 

The ACT hit its 70 percent fully vaccinated threshold on 8^th October 2021, while NSW hit it on 7^th October 2021. 

The Federal Government announced the changes to the distribution of Covid-19 Disaster Payments back in late September 2021. 

“These Covid disaster payments, these business support payments have been emergency payments and we can’t continue them forever, nor can we continue lockdowns forever. If you look abroad, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States – countries are starting to live with Covid,” said Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg back in September.  

Over the past few weeks close to 1.7 million Australians living across Victoria, NSW and ACT have been receiving the payments during recent lockdowns. 

“People whose income is still affected may still be eligible for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment. “Claiming online, through myGov, remains the quickest and easiest way to claim –more than 90 per cent of claims are made online and some claims are processed within hours,” said Federal Minister for Government Services Linda Reynolds in a statement to the media on Thursday 7^th October 2021. 

Most people in Greater Sydney and NSW will have received their last automatic payment at the beginning of the week and will be able to claim from 10^th October 2021.  

People living in the inner suburbs of Sydney should have received their final automatic payment on 7^th October 2021 and will be able to claim from 14^th October 2021, while those who are receiving Centrelink top-up payments can claim from 18^th October 2021.