Has Qantas learned its lesson?

Has Qantas learned its lesson?

Author: Momentum Media August 20, 2025 Duration: 57:49

It's the largest corporate fine for industrial relations breaches in Australian history: a mammoth $90 million, handed down to Qantas for the illegal outsourcing of around 1,800 ground workers during the pandemic – on top of $120 million already imposed in compensation.

At 75 per cent of the maximum penalty, it will doubtless put the fear of God (and the unions) into other large companies who might be considering similar moves, and the national carrier has offered an apology – but is it really sorry, or, as Justice Michael Lee speculated, only sorry it got caught?

Jake and special guest host Emilie Lauer of Smart Property Investment unpack the ramifications of the fine and ask whether a leopard ... or a Flying Kangaroo ... really can change its spots.

Plus, between ageing planes, razor-thin margins and soaring airfares, what can be done about the ongoing travails of regional aviation?


You'll find the Australian Aviation Podcast Network right at the intersection of runway tarmac and boardroom strategy. Produced by Momentum Media, this collection of shows digs into the stories that define flight in this part of the world, moving well beyond the headlines. Each episode feels like a hangar chat with the people who know the industry best-pilots, engineers, executives, and analysts-offering a grounded perspective on everything from the engineering marvels of new aircraft to the complex logistics of running an airline. We explore the sheer joy and freedom of recreational flying just as deeply as the tough commercial decisions that keep the sector aloft. Whether it's a discussion on sustainable fuel technologies, the revival of regional routes, or the history behind a beloved aircraft type, the conversation is always driven by genuine curiosity. Tune in for clear, informed talk that connects the dots between the business of aviation and the passion that fuels it, all delivered with a distinct Aussie lens. This podcast network is for anyone who feels that lift of anticipation when an aircraft throttles down the runway, or who simply wants to understand the forces that shape how we connect across this vast continent and beyond.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 385

Australian Aviation Podcast Network
Podcast Episodes
UPRT Australia on the training that saves lives [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:06
Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) is finally being recognised by Australia's aviation regulators in recent days. On this week's episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Bella Richards chats with UPRT…
Coulson talks aerial firefighting tactics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:49
More than two years since our Black Summer, Australia is beginning to rethink how we fight bushfires in the air. On this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn speaks to Wayne Coulson, the CE…
How Lockheed Martin Australia works with Ronson Gears [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:27
How do big Australian primes work with smaller businesses in the supply chain? In this special podcast, host Adam Thorn interviews Chris Hess, Head of Industrial Development at Lockheed Martin Australia and Gavin New, th…
Why aviation needs to heed PM's warning of Russian cyber-attacks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:49
In this bonus episode of the Australian Aviation podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and MAJGEN (Ret'd) Marcus Thompson discuss the importance of Australian business, including the aviation sector, preparing for possible cyber t…
A mammoth crisis recap and Bonza hits turbulence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:03
After missing out on our usual news-loaded podcasts for a few weeks, the team sure had plenty to catch up on this week. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling give you the…
Viking Boys and other untold stories of bravery with John Quaife [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:51
In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and guest Air Vice Marshall (Ret'd) John Quaife, AM, sit down to discuss John's new book Viking Boys. A former Air Commander Australia, John spent nea…
Bonza CEO reveals network plans for 2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:49
This week, start-up budget carrier Bonza lifted the lid on its initial route offerings, which includes 25 routes to 16 destinations, with base operations split between the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne. In this special bo…
How have airlines responded to Australia's reopening? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:29
This week, the industry responded to the massive news that Australia will reopen its borders to tourists from 21 February, with airlines ramping up Australian schedules, and Tourism Australia dropping $40 million on a ne…
Border restrictions finally fall, while WA is left in the dust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:29
This week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison finally revealed that Australia's last international borders restrictions would be eased, allowing double-jabbed tourists and other visa holders back into the country. In this epi…
When will tourists touch down in Australia? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:45
This week, the Prime Minister hinted that tourism is soon to be back on the cards for Australia, while Qantas faced the Fair Work Commission again over its ongoing pay dispute with its international cabin crew. In this e…