Wednesday, 4 October 2023

Qantas

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (09:42): Last month Qantas unanimously lost its High Court appeal over sacking 1700 baggage handlers, cleaners and ground staff. In the Transport Workers’ Union media release on 13 September, the TWU has also called on new CEO Vanessa Hudson to publicly apologise to illegally sacked workers and commit to a speedy and non-adversarial approach to Federal Court hearings on compensation and penalties. Three unanimous rulings from the Federal Court and the High Court found that Qantas breached the Fair Work Act 2009, outsourcing workers and preventing them from accessing their industrial rights to collective bargaining and protected industrial action. The TWU national secretary Michael Kaine paid tribute to that workforce’s determination to hold Qantas management to account. He said:

Qantas workers have made history today. It has been three years and 20 days since Alan Joyce first announced the decision to outsource these workers, and they have not stopped fighting for a moment to ensure justice was served.

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Qantas needs a fresh start. A worker voice on the board would make a significant difference and send the right signal that Qantas is serious about getting back on track.

The federal Parliament needs to pass the closing the loopholes bill currently being delayed by the Senate until February next year. That needs to change, and they need to take action. This TWU legal battle began in 2020. Qantas should seek to resolve these financial compensation matters as soon as possible as a show of good faith and to settle those matters with the workers. To the Transport Workers’ Union, as a proud member, along with very many of my colleagues and every member of the Allan government, congratulations to TWU for fighting for workers rights and winning.