Lord mayoral candidate Anthony Koutoufides pledges free coffee on Mondays, $5000 business grants

Carlton champion Anthony Koutoufides is promising to give free coffees to city workers as part of his campaign to be elected to Melbourne’s top job.

Anthony Koutoufides having a coffee with his running mate, former Wyndham councillor Intaj Khan, at Cafenatics in Southbank. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Carlton champion Anthony Koutoufides has pledged to shout city workers a Monday morning coffee for at least a month and to splash cash on businesses that move into Melbourne’s CBD, if elected to the city’s top job.

The Herald Sun can reveal that Koutoufides, who is running for lord mayor in the October council election, will on Thursday unveil the first official policy of his campaign in a bid to “bring life back” to the city.

The AFL legend said he would trial four initiatives in his first six months at Town Hall to “get the city moving again before it is too late”, including $5000 business grants.

The four-part policy is believed to be the first of the mayoral race designed to attract workers back to the city, with Melbourne’s love affair with coffee at its centre.

Koutoufides wants to attract more workers back to the city. Picture: David Crosling

“Most Melburnians love coffee and our cafes are renowned around the world for it, so for those that make the effort to come into the CBD on a Monday, we’ll shout you a coffee,” Koutoufides said.

The Herald Sun understands the incentive would be capped at one coffee per person on a Monday morning and run for an initial trial period of one month.

While the finer details are yet to be thrashed out, Koutoufides and his team were exploring options that could see workers scanning a QR code to secure their coffee voucher, which they could redeem within the City of Melbourne.

“Let’s put smiles back on people’s faces again,” he added.

“A free coffee can make a big difference.”

Under the policy, a one-off grant of up to $5000 would also be handed to up to 1000 businesses that sign a new lease in Melbourne’s CBD in 2025, which currently has the highest office vacancy rate in the nation, according to the latest office market report.

“All you need to do is walk around the city, Southbank and Docklands and the number of ‘For Lease’ signs is growing by the day,” Koutoufides said.

He added there was no specific type of business they were looking to target with the grants, which are intended to help business owners cover the costs of their rent and escalating bills.

His team said this part of the policy is expected to cost Town Hall up to $5m.

Koutoufides said he would also work with the state government to offer “subsidised” travel across the public transport network for a trial period, starting with Fridays.

In March, the City of Melbourne began calling on the state government to cut the cost of myki fares for office workers on Mondays and Fridays, with former lord mayor Sally Capp saying at the time that the state government was “open” to having the conversation.

Koutoufides says he would work with the state government to offer subsidised travel across the public transport network. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Koutoufides added that his final initiative would ensure continued support for major events.

“Weekends are just as important, and we know that major events and special activations in our city are big drivers of activity,” he said.

“Last financial year almost $96 million in economic value was delivered to the city through events and (we) want to build on this, putting extra resources into this space.”

Earlier this month, Koutoufides unveiled controversial and flamboyant former Wyndham councillor Intaj Khan as his running mate.

Former federal Liberal MP Gladys Liu and commercial property developer Zaim Ramani will also run on his independent ticket in a bid to become councillors.

Koutoufides (middle) says he believes in his team: Intaj Khan (left), Gladys Liu and Zaim Ramani (right). Picture: David Crosling

Koutoufides, who played 278 games for the Blues from 1992 to 2007, said he believed in his team, when asked what he would say to those who doubt he can take on the city’s top job.

“In order to create the premiership team, you have your superstars, your stars and those players need to play for the team,” he said.

“And I feel like we’ve built that sort of team as well. And I think if you run anything with passion and love, you can really get through it all.”

Mr Khan said the ticket wanted to see public servants coming back to the office four days per week, noting they did not want to force them – but “encourage” them back.

The ticket appears to have walked back from its earlier statement to work with the state government to “introduce new laws that government and corporate workers must work at least four days a week in their office to enliven the city”.

Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari criticised that proposal last week, saying the lord mayor had “no right or ability” to intervene in working arrangements between workers and employers.