‘Make Yourself At Home’ travel voucher a clever ruse to distract from pain of border closures

We’re paying for the travel vouchers, no matter how the state government dresses up its giveaway scheme – and we’re paying to help keep struggling local businesses afloat, writes Jenna Cairney.

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THERE’S nothing like a bit of “free money” to send people into a frenzy.

Ever since Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein announced the ‘Make Yourself At Home’ scheme, which allowed residents to claim vouchers to put towards accommodation or attractions, the comment section of our website has lit up.

On September 8, the first $7.5 million round of vouchers was made available.

Mr Gutwein warned it would be first-in best-dressed to register for the giveaway and he anticipated there could be problems when the website became inundated.

Make yourself at home - Tourism Tasmania campaign posters

Make yourself at home - Tourism Tasmania campaign posters

Indeed by 9.01am the website was buckling under the pressure of high demand and 40 minutes later, it was all over and the vouchers had all been snapped up.

The pace at which registrations were happening means the government was spending about $187,000 a minute – an extraordinary number.

Those who experienced the spinning wheel of death, error messages, or those who were just too late to the party, were obviously disappointed.

The Mercury was inundated with comments from readers upset that they’d missed out on the voucher scheme, which offered $100 accommodation vouchers for midweek stays and one $50 experience voucher. Families could access multiple incentives to use on different nights.

On Wednesday Mr Gutwein announced there would be another round of travel vouchers released – this time $5 million worth.

Vouchers will be made available from 7pm until 9pm on Wednesday September 30 for travel from that date.

They need to be used by the end of November.

Premier Peter Gutwein announces another round of travel vouchers at Lenna of Hobart Hotel in Battery Point. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

And already those who missed out the last time have an axe to grind and are calling for the government to ensure Tasmanians don’t double dip.

Some are also outraged that only 800 of the 21,000 vouchers released had been lodged for redemption.

The government has said that those who received vouchers in the first round, but have not yet used them, will be ineligible for a second voucher.

Undoubtedly when next Wednesday rolls around there will be a flurry of angry exchanges from those who missed out – with people quick to declare the scheme a failure.

But can we all just calm down?

First of all, it’s important to remember that there is no such thing as free money.

Any handouts the government provides now, us, our kids and our grandkids will be paying back down the track.

The voucher scheme is a clever public relations exercise to soothe the pain and distract us from the state borders staying shut.

But it is also a concerted push to encourage those who can to get out and support Tasmanian tourism operators who are on their knees.

It’s not about Tasmanians getting a free holiday, it’s part of a number of measures introduced by both state and federal governments to ensure that buckling businesses get every chance to live to fight another day.

If you were lucky enough to snap up a voucher – make sure you use it.

If you weren’t and you still have the means to enjoy a weekend trip or even a day trip – then get out there and spend money you otherwise might have spent overseas or on the mainland with a local operator.