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
Air Venture 2018 - Friday Report from Cessnock Aerodorme [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:48
Its Air Venture 2018 time and it's the great Aussie Fly In. We visited the show on Friday the 21st Sept and met a few of the people behind this wonderful annual event. https://airventureaustralia.com.au
10-Years of the QANTAS Airbus A380 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:18
Today represents a significant milestone in aviation in Australia and particularly for Qantas. It was 10-years ago that Qantas took off on its maiden flight from Toulouse in France to Australia in it's very first Airbus…
An Aviation World Record Attempt with Liam Morey - Teen Around Oz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:45
Liam Morey is just 16-years old and is attempting to break the Guinness World record to be the youngest person to circumnavigate Australia unassisted and on his own in a plane. The trip has taken him to the most eastern,…
Outback Aviators - the trip of a lifetime on the Outback Air Race [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:11
We were joined on the podcast by Shannon and Stephen from Outback Aviators. Both Stephen and Shannon are passionate pilots and both were looking for a little adventure when Stephen came across the Outback Air Race and de…
Vincent Aiello, call sign Jell-O: US Navy Top Gun Fighter Pilot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:38
On today's show our guest is Vincent Aiello, call sign Jell-O Vincent is a 25-year veteran of the United States Navy and is a qualified Top Gun instructor. His career as a naval aviator took him all over the world and he…
July 2018 Edition - Rusty Pilots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:01
For so many people who learned how to fly, life gets in the way and puts the career or hobby on hold for an extended time. When time comes to get back in the cockpit, the challenge becomes one of polishing up those old,…