Government Services Minister Stuart Robert claims the MyGov website was hit by a cyber attack this morning.

Robert said the site could only handle 55,000 users at one time, insisting it was fine despite people being unable to access it.

“MyGov has not been offline, it’s simply suffered from a distributed denial of service attack this morning,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“At present there are delays, we don’t give a running commentary on delays.”

Robert has urged people to go online to start their claims.

Centrelink will boost its workforce by 5000 people to deal with the influx of applicants and extend call centre hours.

But there will be fewer staff in offices due to social distancing requirements.

The opposition is sceptical about Robert’s claims the system was hacked.

“No one believes this,” Labor MP Tim Watts tweeted on Monday.

Opposition frontbencher Bill Shorten said the unprecedented demand was “entirely foreseeable”.

“At this hour of need, Australians are having to grapple with inadequate service, online glitches and a lack of planning to deal with demand at Centrelink shopfronts,” he said, adding the minister must do better.

“He must ensure Centrelink services – online and in-person – are working now when Australians need them most.” 

Demand for MyGov services has risen dramatically, with many Australians who have been stood down due to extra coronavirus restrictions seeking access to unemployment benefits.

From midday today thousands of businesses, including pubs, gyms and restaurants, have been forced to close their doors.

For many, today marks the first time they have sought government assistance in their lives.

The government’s $66 billion second-stage stimulus package includes a doubling of dole payments, as it seeks to protect the economy from the devastating impact of the pandemic.

Some asset tests for welfare payments are being waived.

Small businesses can apply for grants of up to $10,000, and the Jobseeker Payment is being doubled.

Taking into account the first round of stimulus measures, and those announced by the Reserve Bank this week, the total economic assistance package is now worth $189 billion, according to the government.

That is equivalent to 9.7 per cent of Australia’s GDP.