Qantas fined $250k for standing down

worker

April 2024 Qantas has been fined 250-thousand dollars by the NSW District Court for breaching workplace health and safety laws, after standing down a former employee, Theo Seremetidis, for raising COVID-19 concerns. Judge David Russell criticised Qantas for standing down Seremetidis for directing staff not to clean planes arriving from China, early in the pandemic. Judge Russell termed it as “shameful” conduct that prioritised commercial interests over the safety of its employees. While the ruling marks the first criminal prosecution of a major airline for safety violations, Seremetidis said the penalty was insignificant for such a large organisation. Labor Senator Tony Sheldon called for resignations, emphasising the need for corporate responsibility, as employers were warned about discriminating against health and safety representatives. The airline accepted the penalty, apologising to Seremetidis, stating that the airline will “continue to encourage employees to report all safety-related matters”.

Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia