LAUDABLE OR "LAUGHABLE"?

Queensland’s newly appointed Treasurer, Cameron Dick, has announced that state-owned Queensland Investment Corporation will make an official bid for a stake in Virgin Australia, to take the form of a direct equity stake, a loan, a guarantee or another financial incentive, the ABC reports.

While Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton described the move as “laughable” — and the state government as “corrupt and chaotic” — it has been welcomed by politicians on both ends of the spectrum, including federal Assistant Minister for Superannuation Jane Hume and Queensland’s sole Greens MP Michael Berkman.

The news comes as investment firms Brookfield, BGH Capital and Bain Capital emerge as the three frontrunners ahead of Friday’s deadline for non-binding initial offers for the company, The New Daily reports.

SPEAKING OF CHAOTIC: Dutton has had less success with his own aviation scheme, after the threat of a Nationals revolt forced the Coalition to overhaul cost recovery arrangements under his security screening plan for regional airports, The Guardian reports.

AUSPOL IS BACK

The first day of federal parliament since cases started significantly dropping was dominated by debate about JobKeeper; Labor and the Greens failed to expand the scheme to universities, but Scott Morrison did pledge at least some version of it will survive until September, The Australian ($) reports.

In other day-one highlights:

• Scott Morrison argued the only “authority” Bridget McKenzie sought during the sports rort saga related to announcements, not grant decisions (ABC);
• Because Australia somehow doesn’t have enough mass surveillance laws, Peter Dutton has introduced legislation that would allow ASIO to question 14-year-olds and use tracking devices without a warrant (The Guardian); and
• The Australian Office of Financial Management reported a record $19 billion for April’s ten-and-a-half-year debt offering (AFR $).

PS: Sport Australia has told the Senate inquiry that, effectively, McKenzie piggybacked off its own authority to make the $141 million in sports grants, The Guardian reports.

STATE WRAP

The NSW government has announced that pubs and clubs will be allowed to reopen attached restaurants and cafes when state restrictions ease on Friday, the ABC reports. They will, however, have to stick to the 10 patrons or fewer rule.

The ACT, which will create similar 10 or fewer rules on Friday, will allow playgrounds and parks to reopen from midnight, and limited library services to resume from Monday, May 18.

Victoria has announced a $150 million experience economy survival package to support sporting clubs and competitions — “from grassroots to elite” — as well as major tourist attractions, galleries and museums, live music workers and the racing industry.

Victoria also outlined a $3.7 million energy counselling package, designed to fund new financial counsellors and online training for more than 1,100 frontline community workers who will provide immediate electricity and gas management support.

Similarly, Western Australia has announced a $10.4 million tourism recovery fund, offering one-off grants for tourism operators to assist in adapting to post-pandemic conditions.

Tasmania has announced that trials for all three racing codes, along with new operating procedures, will resume from Monday, May 18.

Finally, the Queensland government announced that outback pubs and clubs will receive more than 3,000 litres’ worth of free XXXX GOLD ahead of reopening this weekend.