The appalling vision of "around the corner" queues outside Centrelink offices was shockingly reminiscent of pictures of dole and soup kitchen lines in the 1930s.

It will take a long time for a million or more previously working Australians to come to terms with the loss of jobs and businesses and the reality of living on $600 a week.

A terrible health emergency has morphed into a major social and economic crisis.

Iconic bars and cafes have been forced to close their doors, as have the clubs that have been an integral part of the ACT's social scene for years.

Long established houses of worship that have been offering believers hope and solace since when Canberra was little more than a small country town are no longer open.

And, while supermarkets are doing a roaring trade, almost every other business sector still able to operate is staring disaster in the face.

Canberra's long love affair with real estate, which has recently seen prices rise to record levels, is already under pressure. Social distancing rules are having an impact on the way agents go about their business.

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It is only a matter of time before the widespread withdrawal of listings and falling auction clearances, already reported in Sydney and Melbourne over the weekend, are replicated here.

Our once booming construction industry, a major ACT private sector employer, is also facing an uncertain future.

Demand for renovations and house builds is already falling off. Major projects are under threat from supply chain issues and trying to incorporate social distancing measures into existing work practices.

While service stations can continue to trade, it is only a matter of time before takings plunge, and more staff are thrown out of work, as people stop travelling.

Banks are preparing to reduce their hours at the same time medical practices across the country are being stretched to the limit.

And then, to compound the issues thousands of families are already facing, the school closures have meant the vast majority of the ACT's school age population is under lockdown at home.

It is a strange, and frightening, new world for everybody; especially the very old and the very young. It is more important than ever for people to exercise respect, restraint, and self-control wherever they happen to be.

Don't abuse call centre operators, Centrelink workers, medical and emergency personnel or supermarket staff. All of these people are doing the best they can with what they've got. Nobody is going to change a situation in their favour by being a jerk.

And, on the subject of doing the best you can, it is clear some members of the "national cabinet" need to lift their game.

Monday's furphy about a denial of service attack causing the MyGov website crash raised serious questions about whether or not Government Services Minister, Stuart Robert, is fit to hold his post.

He compounded the original error by his callous "my bad" crack on 2GB on Tuesday. This is no laughing matter. If Mr Robert is unable to take his job seriously, or to perform it competently, then he needs to be brought back into line by Scott Morrison.

This is why we need a true government of national unity that includes politicians from both sides of the chamber.

This would give the Prime Minister a much broader pool of ministerial talent to draw upon than exists within the limited ranks of the Liberal and National parties.