Qantas Fined $90 Million for Unlawfully Outsourcing 1,820 Ground-Handling Jobs

Summary

Qantas was ordered to pay a A$90 million penalty in August 2025 over its decision to outsource ground-handling work affecting 1,820 employees. The underlying outsourcing decision was made in 2020. Australian courts found that Qantas contravened the Fair Work Act because one substantial and operative reason for the outsourcing decision was to prevent employees from exercising workplace rights, including future protected industrial action. The High Court unanimously dismissed Qantas's appeal in September 2023. Qantas subsequently agreed to fund A$120 million in compensation for affected former employees. In 2025, Qantas publicly accepted the Federal Court penalty and apologised to the workers and their families. Sources: High Court of Australia https://www.hcourt.gov.au/cases-and-judgments/judgments/judgments-1998-current/qantas-airways-limited-v-transport-workers-union-australia Qantas statement on penalty https://investor.qantas.com/DownloadFile.axd?file=%2FReport%2FComNews%2F20250818%2F02979679.pdf