Australia's economy will take a $50 billion hit in the June quarter but things could get a lot worse if restrictions to deal with the coronavirus stay in place.
As the nation's leaders start planning baby steps towards normality, its bean counters have calculated the economic cost of the health measures.
Treasury has estimated Australia's economy will shrink by between 10 and 12 per cent by June, equivalent to $50 billion.
A harsher lockdown, akin to the eight-week closures seen across Europe, could wipe $120 billion from GDP.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said Australians have earned themselves an early mark for their work in flattening the curve of infections.
Every extra week the current restrictions stay in place costs the economy another $4 billion, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will reveal in a speech on Tuesday.
But Australia is fortunate in not having had to resort to a full lockdown.
"Significant sectors of our economy like agriculture, mining and construction have been able to adapt to the new health restrictions and in most cases continue to operate," he will tell the National Press Club, according to extracts of his speech.
Nevertheless, he sees it as vital to get people back into jobs quickly.
History shows unemployment takes a lot longer to go down than it does to spike.
In the current crisis, Treasury expects the jobless rate to double to 10 per cent by June.
It says the situation would be a lot worse but for the government's JobKeeper wage subsidy.
The number of jobs advertised more than halved in April, a record monthly drop.
"Notwithstanding Australia's success to date on the health front, and the unprecedented scale and scope of our economic response, our economic indicators are going to get considerably worse in the period ahead before they get better," Mr Frydenberg will say.
But still, he believes there is cause for optimism about the future.
The heads of Treasury and the Reserve Bank have told leaders policies to promote economic growth after the health crisis passes must not be business as usual.
But Mr Frydenberg will point to the coalition's intention to hold fast to its guiding values and principles.
"Unleashing the power of dynamic, innovative, and open markets must be central to the recovery, with the private sector leading job creation, not government," he will say.
Australian National University tax expert Robert Breunig wants the government to hold a national summit examining taxation reform that would kickstart the economy while reducing the mountain of debt piled up in responding to the coronavirus.
The Reserve Bank board will meet shortly after the Treasurer's speech but is expected to keep rates on hold at their record low 0.25 per cent.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store.
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