As part of the ACT Government’s COVID-19 jobs and economic recovery plan, Canberrans are being encouraged to buy local through a new discount voucher scheme.
Launched yesterday, eligible local businesses across Canberra can register to participate in ChooseCBR, a digital discount voucher initiative designed to encourage spending at local businesses. The Canberra community can also sign up from today to redeem the discounts, which can be used at participating businesses from Wednesday December 9.
“The Canberra community has responded well to the pandemic so far, and that has allowed many businesses to reopen over the past few months,” said Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
“However, the pandemic is not over and the ACT Government will continue to support local businesses to keep the economy moving and keep people in jobs. This is one part of our plan to create and protect over 250,000 local jobs by 2025.”
He said the program would support local businesses across a range of industries, including retail, tourism, accommodation, arts and recreation, personal services and hospitality sectors.
Minister for Business and Better Regulation Tara Cheyne said the ACT Government will trial the program with an initial $500,000 worth of discounts.
“The program will offer anyone over 18 up to $40 worth of discounts each day if they spend over a certain amount of money at participating businesses. The program will be open until 21 December or until the $500,000 allocation is exhausted,” Minister Cheyne said.
The program is modelled on a successful City of Darwin program ‘myDarwin’ which found that for every $1 of government spending, businesses benefited by between $4 revenue up to $6 revenue. This means the ChooseCBR trial could provide up to around $3 million worth of stimulus to the ACT economy at a time when we need it most.
To be able to participate, businesses must:
- have a physical shopfront in the ACT; and
- have received JobKeeper payments during 2020; and
- be in the retail, tourism and accommodation, arts and recreation, personal services and hospitality sectors (as per ANZSIC codes); and
- have less than $10 million in turnover per annum.
“Businesses and community members can both register for the program from today by going to https://choosecbr.act.gov.au/. Businesses fill in a simple application, which will then be assessed. Eligible businesses will go into the ChooseCBR business directory,” Minister Cheyne said.
“The community can sign up from today, with the program open to anyone over the age of 18, including both locals and visitors.
“From 9 December, consumers will be able to login to the ChooseCBR website to access a range of vouchers worth $2.50, $5, $10 and $20.
“There is a minimum spend to be able to use the vouchers. ChooseCBR discounts can be used for any transactions at eligible businesses, however they can’t be redeemed for alcohol, tobacco, or gaming products.“
“The program is designed to help local businesses to get more customers in the door and start the road to recovery. We’re encouraging Canberrans to get involved, particularly as we get close to the holiday season,” said Minister Cheyne.
She said the ACT Government would evaluate the ChooseCBR trial before an expected rollout of the full program early next year.
