In a region where the number of unemployed people has climbed approximately nine per cent in a little over three months, JobKeeper has been the major support preventing that number rising further.

Research presented by Bendigo Tourism predicts more than 4400 jobs could be at risk when JobKeeper expires at the end of September, creating almost a billion dollars' worth of pain for our economy.

No matter how hard we try to spin it, the reality is the world will not return to normal at the end of September, but there is the very real chance reality will intervene and obliterate thousands of jobs if we don't manage the transition adequately.

Bendigo Tourism Board chair Finn Vedelsby believes an extension will help mitigate the risk, and although expensive, it might also be a potential saviour.

He points to the potential for a 'double whammy' to strike - because bank and mortgage payments can be expected to resume after September.

The Prime Minister has so far failed to declare how the government plans to help hundreds of thousands of businesses and Australian workers through this process and to a sustainable conclusion.

Australians who are stuck in this predicament deserve to know how their government plans to help.

As a nation we have done an outstanding job in navigating our way through the pandemic, and now is not the time to stop.

Yes, it will cost us - and a lot, but just a couple of months ago we were prepared to spend many billions more taxpayer dollars helping and supporting vulnerable everyday Australians who through no fault of their own, were suddenly put under enormous financial and emotional strain.

By all means, review the support, refine it and then adjust so it gets to those who still need it, but we need to recognise there is still a great need to help.

Switching off the support that will still be needed - in many cases more than ever, just doesn't make sense.