Qantas should focus on delivering for all Australians
The Coalition notes the unanimous decision
of the High Court in the Qantas case and believes it sends a clear message to
the company’s board and management.
Shadow Attorney
General Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash said: “Today’s decision demonstrates a
strong need for Qantas management to refocus on what should be its core
objective of providing a high-quality service and to deliver for its employees,
its customers and the Australian public.”
“Qantas should spend
less time focusing its efforts on getting the Albanese Government to block its
competitors and helping them run joint political campaigns. Their focus should
be squarely on running a high-quality airline,’’ Senator Cash said.
The High Court
decision concerned the general protection provisions in the Fair Work Act. It
came down against the company because a substantial and operative reason for
the decision to outsource its ground handling operations was to prevent the
exercise of a workplace right.
“We note that Qantas
has accepted the decision and has expressed regret about the impact their
outsourcing decision had had on employees. It will now be a matter for the
courts to deal with penalties and possible compensation,’’ Senator Cash said.
Shadow Minister for
Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Senator the Hon Bridget
McKenzie said: “This decision lies squarely at the feet of former CEO Alan
Joyce and the board of Qantas.”
“Qantas’ behaviour
as a leading corporate and one of Australia’s most important companies is
regrettable and reprehensible,’’ Senator McKenzie said.
“The workers at
Qantas do an amazing job getting us into the sky and to our destination
safely,’’ she said.
“Today’s High Court
ruling that Qantas breached protections in the Fair Work Act comes on top of
allegations the company sold ghost flights and attempted to poach people’s
Covid flight credits, while agreeing to a generous payout to its former CEO,’’
Senator McKenzie said.
“Australians want an
airline that is affordable, where planes take off safely and land on time, and
their bags arrive at the destination with them,’’ she said.
“It’s time Qantas
focus on their core business and restore their corporate reputation as an
employer of choice,’’ Senator McKenzie said.