Page 1830 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 22 June 2021
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
JobKeeper was removed as a criterion, but the other criteria remained the same. We kept the same range of business types. While some sectors of our economy are performing well, others are not, and this has been a somewhat lumpy recovery. Indeed, some businesses within what seems like a well-performing sector might themselves be struggling; so we did not want to reduce the types of businesses available but to ensure that we were still reaching that broad cross-section.
We simplified the number of vouchers but increased the value proposition for businesses and consumers. We still had a range of different voucher types available. This was because we understand that consumers have different spending capacities and because businesses attract different spends. We increased the discount to 50 per cent. This was another measure to make it more attractive but also to make it easier and simpler for businesses and consumers to calculate.
From there, we engaged with businesses through a wide variety of ways, including: the Our Canberra entire front page feature in the June edition encouraging Canberrans to use the vouchers, with a different business featured that was linked to the region; organic and paid ACT government social media, including Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter; direct mail letters to businesses located in and around town centres and business districts, which included advice on other supports; ArtsACT Twitter and Instagram, their general newsletter and a specific newsletter; DL flyers being distributed to businesses by the Access Canberra COVID compliance team, the TCCS single-use plastics team and the City Renewal Authority placemaking team; door to door engagement with businesses, including by me; a CPA Australia newsletter to more than 3,000 accountancy and finance members so that they could discuss this with their clients; the Canberra Business Chamber’s Canberra Business Buzz post and daily digest newsletter; importantly, a webinar with officials from the ACT government, the Canberra Business Chamber and the Canberra Business Enterprise Centre, which had a high participation rate and the recording was made available, and it explained the program and went through top tips on how to get the most out of it; direct engagement with precinct groups; direct engagement with shopping centre owners for the information of their tenants; direct engagement with community councils; and follow-ups with businesses who applied during the trial but were not eligible then but were this time.
We also ensured that we made a number of resources available which were translated into other languages to assist us in reaching out to as many businesses as possible. We received a very strong take-up from businesses as a result. This included a strong showing in all areas of Canberra. A quick glance at the map on the website reveals this. Registrations grew steadily each day, and then the registration rate increased particularly strongly in the week before the launch. At the time all vouchers had been redeemed, more than 800 businesses had signed up. We provided businesses with a marketing pack, including stickers, posters and badges, as well as social media material, to help them promote the scheme.
Members will recall that we did experience two technical issues during the trial, on the day the trial was announced and then on the day the trial began. This was determined to be an issue relating to the capacity of the server. We anticipated that
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video