A Federal Court judge has described Qantas’ apology for the termination of 1,820 ground staff as “wholly hollow” and insufficient in ensuring such events will not occur again. Justice Michael Lee is currently deliberating the penalties for Qantas related to the illegal sackings, which are considered the largest in Australia’s history. Last October, he ordered the airline to compensate the affected workers with $120 million for their economic loss and emotional distress after their jobs were outsourced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) is advocating for the maximum penalty of $121 million to be paid directly to them, emphasising that Qantas should not be allowed to downplay its previous denials of wrongdoing or rejection of the court’s findings. SC Noel Hutley, representing the union, argued that Qantas has failed to genuinely acknowledge its missteps, pointing out that senior executives hadn’t publicly accepted the legal breach until a recent court appearance.
Hutley asserted that Qantas must be held accountable for not adequately addressing the systemic failures that led to the illegal dismissals. He indicated that the company’s “contrition rings wholly hollow” given their previous staunch denials of any fault. He urged that the proposed penalty be paid to the TWU, which has taken significant risks in advocating for the affected workers, stating that this would ensure the compensation is used for the benefit of its members.
During the proceedings, Qantas’ Chief People Officer, Catherine Walsh, expressed hope that the size of the compensation payment reflects the airline’s regret and desire to support those impacted. Meanwhile, former Qantas employee Damien Pollard expressed the sentiments of many union members, looking forward to the case’s resolution so they can move on from a prolonged and stressful fight.