Matters of Interest

Qantas

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:21): On 28 August, I proudly stood with unionists, including members of the Transport Workers Union, at Adelaide Airport. We showed our dismay following announced plans to cut even more jobs at Aussie icon Qantas. It was reported that the company plans to slash 2,500 more jobs on top of the 6,000 planned redundancies. These further slated cuts impact many ground crew positions in airports around Australia, including Adelaide. I understand Qantas has outsourcing plans, taking opportunities away from its own workers to save a buck.

I know no-one here is a fool. Jobs are falling across Australia. The final extent of retrenchments and redundancies is unknown. The coronavirus pandemic hit travel and tourism hard, and businesses across the sector are suffering. The pain is felt far and wide, and one of the sector's big players, our flying kangaroo, has a powerful kick aimed at some of its own employees. These are the workers who brought Qantas back into the top 10 best airline rankings in 2019. The workforce is on the pandemic frontline, putting themselves at risk while bringing Australians home and reuniting families.

We think of the excitement and glamour of flying as travellers, but it is not all glitz. Many workers in aviation work tirelessly behind the scenes, making sure we get where we are going without incident. We must remember these are the people we rely on to arrive safely and without interruption. These people are part of the jigsaw puzzle, keeping us moving and our aviation industry alive, even during these tumultuous times.

These are the dedicated employees who grew the company from an outback operator into one of the world's oldest airlines, but Qantas' proposed actions will send thousands of these employees into a job market where unemployment figures have tumbled. Our state's unemployment rate is the nation's highest, at 7.9 per cent seasonally adjusted. By my reckoning, it will be harder for local axed Qantas ground crew to find new jobs than for those in Victoria, where despite lockdowns employment figures are higher.

Fiscal historians will remember the federal government's contribution to Qantas when it went into private hands last century. Now, I understand from the unions, Qantas recently received over $800 million in public support—that is $800 million of taxpayers' money—and about half from JobKeeper payments. For these ground workers, their families and supporters, Qantas accepting staff retention payments on one hand while making plans to cut jobs on the other is brutal.

When Qantas balances its books, it is hard for ordinary Australians to see why the company must cut jobs to keep flying. Its 2020 annual report shows a $3.5 billion cash balance. Qantas investors might miss out on dividends now, but as borders reopen and economies improve the company's bottom line will grow and shareholders will expect returns once again. By then, these jobs will most definitely be gone, replaced with outsourced workers who come and go at the company's whim.

Where will it stop? Once a company breaches loyalty with one group of workers, who is next? The year 2020 may not have brought the centenary celebration Qantas hoped for, but let's hope 2020 is not the year it turned its back on workers.

In closing, for pursuing this campaign on behalf of TWU members, their families and working Australians, I thank the Transport Workers Union. I especially thank the SA branch and its team, including secretary Ian Smith, senior branch official Matt Burnell and the federal union under the leadership of Michael Kaine.