Lessons must be learnt, Gillard says

HAWKS GROW THEIR FLOCK

Julia Gillard has been appointed the next chair of UK-based research investment giant Wellcome Trust, the ABC reports, and will use the role to join calls for an investigation into China’s original coronavirus outbreak, “not so that fingers can be pointed, but so that lessons can be learned”.

While the UK is still in the thick of its own pandemic, Tories have told The Australian ($) that a growing number of backbenchers and intelligence officials are becoming hawkish on China’s handling of the virus and potential to take over high-tech companies amid the looming recession.

PS: Former treasurer Joe Hockey has been hired by Macquarie Group NY to hunt down infrastructure deals in tech and renewables, The Australian Financial Review ($) reports.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR JOBKEEPER?

Following a record unemployment spike to 823,000 in April — with, as Crikey noted yesterday, 2.7 million people undergoing some kind of negative employment change — The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a review of JobKeeper next month will consider extending the September 27 cut-off date with tightened eligibility.

Amid debate over how JobKeeper could evolve, the Fair Work Commission is considering deferring minimum wage increases for stressed companies operating under the scheme, The Australian ($) reports.

WHAT OF JOBSEEKER? Mutual obligations have been paused until June, SBS reports. Social Services Minister Anne Ruston has, however, used emergency regulatory powers to extend cashless welfare card trials until December.

US STIMULUS 4.0

House Democrats have proposed a new US$3 trillion aid package — called the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, to potentially be tabled today — that includes further one-off payments, extended unemployment benefits, hazard pay for frontline workers, increased testing and rent assistance, Forbes reports.

Republicans largely laughed off the proposal, and are expected to push for a litigation shield for businesses that reopen during the pandemic and a reduction of new unemployment benefits, according to NY Intelligencer. And while the devil will be in the detail, earlier this month The Intercept reported that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supports bailouts for the lobbying industry.

THE NEW ZEALAND MODEL

Under its 2020 budget, the New Zealand government has unveiled a NZD$50 billion COVID response and recovery fund. It includes an extension to NZ’s wage subsidy scheme, free training and apprenticeships, an 8,000 public housing build programme, NZD$3 billion in infrastructure support, 11,000 new environmental jobs, and more.

STATE WRAP

From midnight tonight, the ACT will begin the first phase of gradually easing restrictions on sport and recreation, with the relaunching of informal outdoor, non-contact sport and commercial pools.

From today, the Queensland government will allow digital prescriptions, so that vulnerable people can get medicines prescribed by their usual doctor and delivered by their pharmacy without having to leave the home.

The WA government has announced that all students will be required to return to school from next Monday, May 18. Separately, the government welcomed Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s $50,000 commitment to fund the upskilling of apprentices displaced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

South Australia has launched a new campaign and website — “Seasonal Jobs SA” — to help connect job-seekers with agricultural jobs and provide information about roles and requirements, places to stay and coronavirus restrictions.

With libraries set to slowly reopen across Tasmania on Monday, May 18, the government has announced a trial “click and collect” approach to borrowing at the Launceston Library that, subject to success, will be extended as quickly as possible to other libraries.