The government will give every adult in the state four $25 vouchers to spend separately in the hospitality and entertainment sector in an effort to kick start recovery in these industries, which have been worst affected by COVID lockdowns. 

Two of the vouchers can be used at restaurants, cafes, and clubs, and the remaining two can be used at cultural centres, performing arts, cinemas, and amusement parks. 

Anyone over the age of 18 will receive the vouchers through the Service NSW mobile app, with a trial to run in the Sydney CBD in December before a full rollout in early 2021. 

Need somewhere to store cash and earn interest? The table below features savings accounts with some of the highest non-introductory and introductory interest rates on the market.

Provider

4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
Disclosure

Macquarie Savings Account (<$250k)

  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
Disclosure
000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Set up your Pay Cycle and connect your accounts from over 140 financial institutions.
  • Retrace your spending steps into categories with Spending Footprint.
  • Start tapping straightaway with Apple Pay, Google Pay™, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay.
  • No monthly or international fees on any of your transactions.
Disclosure

Save Account

  • Set up your Pay Cycle and connect your accounts from over 140 financial institutions.
  • Retrace your spending steps into categories with Spending Footprint.
  • Start tapping straightaway with Apple Pay, Google Pay™, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay.
  • No monthly or international fees on any of your transactions.
Disclosure
400$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.7%
Disclosure

Savings Accelerator

  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.7%
Disclosure
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Earn up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • No account fees
  • Easy access to your money
Disclosure

AMP Saver Account

  • Earn up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • No account fees
  • Easy access to your money
Disclosure
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
Disclosure

Savings Maximiser

  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
Disclosure
Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of October 14, 2024. View disclaimer.

Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

The vouchers cannot be combined and each only used once, meaning if you don't use the full $25 balance in one transaction, the remaining balance will expire. 

They cannot be used on alcohol, gambling, tobacco, or retail, and can only be used at COVID-safe businesses that sign on to the scheme. 

In an effort to limit the number of patrons in venues, the government will attempt to limit the use of the vouchers to less busy days outside of the Friday to Sunday rush. 

The scheme is similar to a UK government initiative, 'Eat Out to Help Out', which gave diners a 50% discount if they dined out on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August. 

NSW Treasurer Dom Perrottet said the scheme was designed to assist those industries struggling most, and urged consumers to help out where possible. 

"We want to encourage people to open up their wallets and contribute to the stimulus effect," Mr Perrottet told the ABC.

"The dining and entertainment industries were among the hardest hit by the pandemic and I would encourage people to utilise this scheme once it is up and running and to make sure they spend a bit extra on the way through, too."

Mr Perrottet will announce the $500 million scheme when he hands down his budget on Tuesday to parliament. 

It's expected to come with the largest deficit NSW has ever seen, taking five years before the budget returns to surplus. 

Among the measures to be announced by the Treasurer will be a payroll tax threshold increase from $1 million to $1.2 million, and fast-tracked funding for infrastructure and maintenance projects. 

"Our strong budget position has allowed us to weather the most severe economic storm in a generation, and we will continue to lead the way in job creation and supporting business through the 2020-21 Budget,” Mr Perrottet said.

The NSW Treasury has forecast the state’s unemployment rate will drop from a peak of 7.5% in the December quarter 2020 to around 5% in June 2024.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the government was determined to help as many people return to the workforce as possible.

“While we all wait for the COVID-19 vaccine to arrive, the NSW Government is determined to treat the economic symptoms of the pandemic by saving and creating as many jobs as possible,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Our targeted stimulus measures are aimed at returning the economy to a positive footing after the challenges of COVID-19.”