Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

JobKeeper was paid to Qantas, the aviation sector support was provided and then Qantas said the workers, even though they were being paid JobKeeper, would run down their leave, and, once their leave had been run down and they came to be brought back on shift, they were told after being stood down for six months that they were fired. That's what happened. While their leave was being run down, the industrial relations minister of the day said it was 'a good model'. The transport minister of the day said, 'I know the decisions are in the best interest of their company going forward,' and Senator Cash said at the time, 'This is a commercial decisions for Qantas, and Qantas are entitled to make those decisions.' Well, you are not entitled to illegally sack people.

While that was happening, from opposition, the now Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the now Prime Minister and I stood shoulder to shoulder with those workers and said we would fight for them. From time to time, governments make decisions as to whether they will intervene in a High Court case. Those opposite will know this because they did intervene in High Court cases. They intervened to cut the conditions in enterprise agreements. They intervened in another case to cut the rights of casuals. They intervened to cut the rights of shift workers. Well, we intervened to protect the rights of those Qantas workers, and we welcome that justice has been given today for those workers after they experienced horrific treatment from a company that those opposite made excuses for, that those opposite made allowances for. They are now in a situation where, after we stood shoulder to shoulder with them, those workers now can see some justice.

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