"The queues at Centrelink this week show that the government's plan is already failing," the Greens treasury spokesperson said.

He said the government's economic package relied on small business continuing to pay wages.

"But businesses can't pay wages if they're being forced to shut down and have no revenue coming in the door," he said.

"Small business groups and unions are on a unity ticket here; a UK-style job and wages guarantee will be much better now and after this crisis is over.

"A job and wages guarantee means people can keep their jobs and small business owners can stay in business."

Senator Whish-Wilson said another problem with the government's package was businesses that stood down workers had to pay leave entitlements before workers could get the JobSeeker Payment.

"This will further destroy small business cashflows and will mean that if and when employees return to work they will have to start from scratch," he said.

"The government must use the impending total lock-down to reset and adopt the UK model of a job and wages guarantee."

The UK model involves the government paying up to 80 per cent of the wages of workers unable to work because of the virus as long as the workers are kept on by employers.

It is aimed at avoiding mass job losses.