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Workers in the tourism industry could be thrown a lifeline under a plan being hatched by the federal government to extend the JobKeeper program beyond September.

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell revealed Treasury officials have spoken with key stakeholders in tourism and other industries hard hit by the pandemic as they begin to prepare their advice ahead of the JobKeeper review.

Mr Clennell said there has been a “realisation” within the government over the need to protect some 660,000 tourism jobs.

“There is a realisation in the government that our international borders will be shut for a year at least and given this how can you not protect those industries. There are 660,000 tourism jobs in Australia and an estimated 400,000 lost or stood down in this crisis,” he said.

The extension, Mr Clennell said, has only been made possible due to the additional $60 billion freed up by an overestimate of the demand for the JobKeeper program.

Labor is calling on the government to use those funds to extend the program to casuals and those who did not initially meet the requirement of the scheme.