“I nearly cried”: Travel voucher disappointment continues

Tasmanians have given mixed reviews to the second round of the state government’s travel voucher scheme, with great demand for the bonus cash again resulting in a rush of website traffic on Wednesday night.

TASMANIANS have given mixed reviews to the second round of the state government’s travel voucher scheme, with great demand for the bonus cash again resulting in a rush of website traffic on Wednesday night.

About 20,000 vouchers were registered for in the $5 million second tranche of the Make Yourself at Home program — with the funding pool exhausted in just 64 minutes.

Like the $7.5 million first round, the website was overwhelmed, with many frustrated they could not get access, and that a new dedicated hotline was hard to reach.

It prompted a significant response on social media, with people sharing frustration and disappointment at missing out and some suggesting the process could have been made fairer through a ballot system to better cater especially for those who were not technologically-minded.

But others defended the system, saying it was an individual’s choice whether or not to have internet access.

Confusion arose when a government advertisement suggested people who registered for a voucher in the first round were not eligible to apply again — in contradiction to other comments by government representatives that they could apply again, provided they had already travelled and redeemed their first voucher.

Bozena and Bartek Pietrzykowski missed out on vouchers in the second round, after spending two hours trying to get through to the hotline. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Claremont couple Bozena and Bartek Pietrzykowski spent two hours on the phone trying to get through to the hotline but had no success.

They also missed out on a voucher in the first round.

“It’s not fair,’’ Mrs Pietrzykowski said.

“I nearly cried [on Wednesday] night.”

The Polish migrants have recently retired after moving to Australia more than 50 years ago — and had hoped to secure a voucher to put towards a trip to Grindelwald.

Premier Peter Gutwein said the website was overwhelmed, but “kept doing its job” — and the addition of a hotline provided another option for those without internet access.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: Premier of Tasmania Peter Gutwein speaks to the media during a Tasmania JackJumpers NBL media opportunity at the Derwent Entertainment Centre on October 01, 2020 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Mr Gutwein said 35,000 people were on the site soon after 7pm when it opened for registrations.

“About 45,000 people will benefit from the voucher program this time around,’’ he said.

Mr Gutwein said the vouchers were being validated and audited and would be sent to recipients by the weekend.

“While some people will be frustrated and disappointed, at the end of the day, between the two rounds we’ll have nearly 90,000 Tasmanians benefiting from the vouchers,’’ he said.

“The vouchers will underpin our tourism and hospitality sector at a time when it needs underpinning and that’s what this is all about.”
Earlier this week, the Tasmanian hospitality industry called for a third round of the voucher scheme to be tailored towards restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs who had been hit by the impacts of COVID-19.