Qantas Ordered to Pay $120 Million to Illegally Sacked Workers

The settlement resolves a four-year legal battle over the airline's outsourcing of 1,820 ground staff during the pandemic.

Qantas will compensate 1,820 former ground staff who were unlawfully outsourced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, following a High Court ruling against the airline.
The $120 million settlement includes payments for both economic losses, such as lost wages, and non-economic damages related to hardship and distress.
A fund to administer the compensation, managed by law firm Maurice Blackburn, will be established in early 2025, with payments made directly to affected workers.
The decision follows years of legal disputes, including failed appeals by Qantas, and marks a significant step in addressing the airline's controversial labor practices.
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson issued a public apology, emphasizing the importance of closure for impacted workers, while union leaders called for broader reforms in aviation industry labor practices.