They did last year, not sure what the point is, but QF has been well and truly caught out with its snout in the trough. The only payment Rex got without strings was the first one, which QF would have received if they were not trying to sink VA. They just waited for VA to fail and started taking the cash afterwards. Have to remember that the assistance is relative to the flying portion. The frequent flyer and freight divisions of QF were profitable all the way through the pandemic.
In any case if its legal its legal, if you ask and receive its up to the gov what strings it attaches and whether its a loan or gift. I could make up some silly thing to do a PHD on like studying if garden worms like beer and get government money. A good manager gets income from whoever offers. AJ played god with the lives of his own staff and those at VA by denying they needed assistance to sink the competition, otherwise both airlines would have received something, there's no doubt. AJ made it political, when it was a commercial imperative.