In the days leading up to the 2020 budget, Prime Minister Scott Morrison talked about repairing Australia's economy like he was restoring an armchair he'd scored on Gumtree.
"It's about cushioning the blow, it's about recovering what was lost, and it's about building for the future," Mr Morrison said.
Brad Trotter isn't an economist, but cushioning and recovering is something he knows a bit about. In a quiet corner of Fyshwick, he's been giving antique furniture a new lease on life for around a decade.
When the coronavirus pandemic struck, he thought his business was done for. But bizarrely, he's been busier than ever.
"Most of the customer feedback I get is that they can't go on holidays so they're literally looking for things to spend their money on," Mr Trotter said.
"Everyone's putting money into their homes, buying paint from Bunnings, that sort of thing, it seems busier than ever."
It's a trend that seems to have rippled through other sectors, as billions of dollars flow through the economy from the coronavirus stimulus measures.
There's not many trades that I talk to that aren't flat out.
Brad Trotter, Signature Upholstery
"There's not many trades that I talk to that aren't flat out; in the joinery industry and building, glaziers, all those sorts of trades, they're all busy," Mr Trotter said.
Canberra Business Chamber senior adviser Michael Schaper said Canberra seemed to be undergoing a two-speed recovery. While some businesses - like Mr Trotter's Signature Upholstery - were busy, others were in dire straits as coronavirus restrictions continued to bite.
"We've actually got a bit of a two-speed economy only opening up. Some businesses are doing quite well but we've also got those unfortunately that are suffering," Dr Schaper said.
One of the toughest challenges businesses faced this year, especially smaller businesses, was how to pivot during the pandemic and go digital, Dr Schaper said. The budget contained $800 million to improve how businesses worked online.
But Dr Schaper said businesses were crying out for targeted investment and clarity from government about the future. While the budget included a 50 per cent wage subsidy for 100,000 apprentices or trainees taken up between now and next September, there was a need to help keep businesses ticking over until the economy began moving again.
"As we wind back some of the support measures, we need to make sure that we don't create more casualties," Dr Schaper said.
"I think this is a budget, we don't need to go wild on it, but we certainly need some strategic investment."
While accelerating personal tax cuts would play a role in pumping money through the economy, Dr Schaper said it was a gamble.
"Sometimes it does flow through, sometimes people keep it and save it especially when times are uncertain," Dr Schaper said.
Mr Trotter said he was keen on more investment in digital vocational education and training to help him build his business.
"Two years ago when I tried to put somebody on, there were no TAFE-based courses running. One [apprentice] is not enough demand but the government couldn't even do a [course by] correspondence."
