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
Onboard a Hercules at Wings Over Illawarra [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:39
This weekend's Wings Over Illawarra was probably the biggest gathering of fans of flight in two years, as attendees bid goodbye to the retiring Classic Hornet and welcomed its replacement, the F-35. Australian Aviation's…
Bell talks the evolution of parapublic aviation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:16
Australia's unique geography arguably makes it more reliant on parapublic aviation services than most countries in the world. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn talks to Bell Flig…
Celebrating the early return of the Qantas A380s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:20
The last fortnight has seen Qantas return the first of 10 Airbus A380s due to return to service for the airline by 2023, while Rex threw ice water on Bonza's fiery launch plans. In this episode of the Australian Aviation…
Australia finally, finally opens its borders to the world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:55
Where were we? Oh yes, COVID, border closures, lockdowns, thousands upon thousands of redundancies, lawsuits and the worst two years in aviation since World War II. But on the Australian Aviation podcast, hosts Phil Tarr…
Bonza founder reveals how he'll disrupt the industry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:25
Earlier this month, startup airline Bonza broke cover to reveal a plan to fly "point-to-point" leisure routes not serviced by Qantas, Virgin and Rex with a fleet of two to three new 737 MAXs. Now founder Tim Jordan tells…
NSW to welcome the world, but are we ready? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:16
This week saw huge announcements out of NSW and Queensland confirming their plans to reopen international borders before the end of this year. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn and repor…
Sky's The Limit Podcast: In the loop with Roulette Seven Aimee Heal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:07
Royal Australian Air Force Flight Lieutenant Aimee Heal is the second-ever female member of the RAAF's aerobatic display team The Roulettes, currently serving as Roulette Seven. In this episode of Sky's The Limit, hosts…
Whisper it, but international flights might return soon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:12
It's been a long, 18-month COVID pandemic, but it looks like commercial international flights to Australia could return sooner than we would have thought. This week, a returning Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn talk thr…
Ex-fire chief Greg Mullins on worsening bushfires [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:10
It seems like an age ago now, but pre-COVID, Australia was battling another crisis with its 'Black Summer' bushfires – the worst in living memory. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, former NSW fire commi…