Qantas ordered to pay $170,000 to three workers illegally sacked during the pandemic

Federal court judge rebukes Qantas for ‘vast legal costs’ expended to defend claims of illegally sacking ground handlers

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A federal court judge has rebuked Qantas for the “vast legal costs” expended to defend claims it illegally sacked almost 1,700 ground handlers in 2020, as former workers move a step closer towards a compensation payout.

Justice Michael Lee ruled on Monday that three test cases should each receive $30,000, $40,000 and $100,000 each. They suffered varying amounts of “non-economic loss”, the court ruled.

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