Qantas claims it made ‘a mistake' in illegally sacking 1820 ground workers

News.com.au

21-05-2025

Qantas says it has 'learnt its lesson' after unlawfully sacking more than 1800 ground workers, claiming the decision was a 'mistake' rather than deliberate.
The airline was thrice found to have acted unlawfully when it fired 1820 staff in favour of outsourced contractors during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
While an earlier compensation hearing before Justice Michael Lee found Qantas should pay $120 million to impacted workers, now a hearing will decide the added penalty Qantas must pay for the 2020 decision.
The hearing in the Federal Court in Sydney continued on Wednesday for its third day before Justice Lee, where Barrister for Qantas Justin Gleeson SC continued his submissions.
Mr Gleeson told the court Qantas's decision was 'a mistake' and not 'intentional'.
'Going forward your honour can be comfortably satisfied Qantas has learnt its lesson,' he said.
'Through Ms Walsh's division and the board … the risk of making this error again is low.
'Qantas is coming to your honour as a first offender … and it would be oppressive to say you should pay close to the maximum penalty.'
Various meetings between senior managers at Qantas, a GMC meeting and a board meeting came under the microscope in court on Wednesday.
Mr Gleeson contended the problem with the outsourcing decision was not exposed to the GMC or board members during the meetings.
'Effectively the green light was given (to the board) … the problem was there but it was not exposed to the GMC or to the board and that's to be taken into account when assessing the liability,' he said.
Mr Gleeson said the process 'fell down' when it had not come to the attention of anyone at the GMC level that a red flag needed to be put up when making the decision.
Earlier in the hearing, Mr Gleeson said the airline is seeking a penalty between $40-$80m.
'We submit the penalty should be in the mid-range,' he said.
Mr Gleeson said any penalty close to the maximum would be 'manifestly unfair'.
'Qantas has accepted the seriousness of its conduct,' he said.
'The court can and should impose a significant deterrent penalty. However, it is in effect a first contravention (of the fair work act).'
The maximum penalty Qantas can be ordered to pay is $121m, on top of the $120m compensation fund that is now in the process of being administered to workers.
Earlier the Transport Workers Union called for the maximum penalty be inflicted upon Qantas, and said the flying kangaroo was faced with a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' during the pandemic to save more than $100m per year.
Noel Hutley SC said the airline had the 'temptation of the potential to produce a massive profit'.
In his submissions on Tuesday, Mr Hutley said Qantas had acted with 'arrogance and a dismissive and self-justified attitude towards these events' that it was 'dragging out'.
While Justice Lee is yet to decide exactly who will receive the money from the penalty imposed upon Qantas, there are three likely parties proposed.
The TWU is seeking a large majority of the penalty, and also argued effected workers should receive further compensation.
Otherwise, the funds could go directly to the commonwealth.
The Federal Court earlier found that Qantas had acted against protections in the Fair Work Act in its outsourcing and was partly motivated by a desire to prevent industrial action.
The airline appealed the decision to the full bench of the Federal Court and later the High Court, both of which were unsuccessful.
After losing the appeal, the union and Qantas went to mediation to determine how much Qantas would have to pay the outsourced workers for economic losses linked to lost wages.
The hearing before Justice Michael Lee is expected to span over five days, ending on Friday.