Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I did not take the advice of Peter Reith about not interfering in the dispute, but clearly his contribution to the debate was interesting. We intervened and sought orders from Fair Work Australia when the dispute between Qantas and the three unions significantly escalated, escalated to a point at which the airline was effectively shut down. We received no warning of that decision by Qantas until the afternoon that they took that action. They rang us to advise us that that was what they were doing. That obviously completely changed the circumstances of the industrial dispute. We immediately had a telephone meeting of ministers. I was authorised to seek Fair Work Australia orders to cease the industrial action. Fair Work Australia met immediately that evening to begin that process. The result is the appropriate one in the circumstances. (Time expired)