ACT businesses prepare for life after JobKeeper

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics business survey shows nearly three quarters of businesses accessed government support measures as a result of COVID-19.

This included accessing wage subsidies (55 per cent) and other government support measures (38 per cent).

Businesses with between 20 and 200 staff were more likely to be on the wage subsidy than businesses with more than 200 workers (61 per cent versus 44 per cent).

Seven in 10 businesses saw their revenue fall due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Jim Paterson, co-owner of Lake Burley Griffin Cruises, said JobKeeper was his only source of income this month.

"I'm hoping we can be back in operation in September," he said.

"I'm getting bookings from coach operators and I'm telling them I can't guarantee that I'll be able to deliver."

If he is able to resume business, due to social distancing he will not be able to take on as many customers per cruise.

"My biggest problem is this - I'm limited to four people on a boat that normally carries 30," he said.

The business was not only affected by COVID-19 but also by last summer's bushfires and smoke haze.

Despite a slightly improved turnover during February, the business has had losses hovering around 60-70 percent since the beginning of the year.

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Diane Orr, owner of Seg Glide Ride, had to stand down all of her staff in march due to COVID-19.

"We've had the worst year on record for our business," she said.

She is hopeful the business can resume in July, but due to border closures she is unsure of how many staff the business will need.

Canberra Business Chamber chief executive Graham Catt said businesses were now considering whether they would continue operations after JobKeeper.

"The issue small businesses in particular are facing is if JobKeeper ceases but restrictions are still in place, can they operate a viable business and is there going to be demand for the goods and services they offer?" he said.

"That's something increasingly on the mind of businesses moving forward."

"Businesses would welcome certainty depending on where they are at. For some in certain sectors well beyond September the opportunity to operate a viable business model won't be there."

Reserve Bank governor Phillip Lowe told a Senate inquiry it may be necessary to extend the JobKeeper scheme past September if certain sectors don't bounce back.

September would be a "critical" point for the Australian economy, as mortgage deferrals also stopped at the same time.

"It's very important we don't withdraw fiscal stimulus too early," Mr Lowe said.

Mr Paterson is hopeful that his business will remain afloat.

"I think we will be able to survive. I wouldn't be doing the job if I wasn't optimistic," he said.