Darwin Council launches $300,000 voucher scheme in local businesses stimulus push

DARWIN council will inject $300,000 into the local economy through a voucher scheme for the tourism, hospitality and retail sectors

Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis has put $300,000 of council’s parking revenue into a Darwin economic stimulus package

DARWIN council will inject $300,000 into the local economy through a voucher scheme next month for the tourism, hospitality and retail sectors.

From today, businesses are encouraged to register for the voucher program through my.darwin.nt.gov.au before residents and visitors can receive up to $40 per person, per day in vouchers to spend across the entire municipality.

The scheme will see punters receive different vouchers adding up to $40 – matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis per transaction – which must be spent at a variety of businesses registered via the program.

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Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said the stimulus package was still being developed by the council and would help businesses rebound from the local impacts of the virus pandemic.

“The whole point of it is to encourage people to spend money in Darwin,” he said.

“Underpinning the stimulus package is the understanding that by supporting local businesses we support the local economy and local jobs.”

The vouchers will work on a minimum spend by consumers system, ranging from a $5 spend through to an $80 spend in order to get between $2.50 and $40 off their purchase.

The $300,000 stimulus package has come from the council’s January to March COVID-19 parking revenue, which they last month announced would be diverted into virus recovery efforts.

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Businesses must be owned and operated in Darwin, have a maximum turnover of $10 million and be at least six months old at time of registration to qualify.

Shoppers can register for vouchers in June.