Government welcomes order to terminate industrial action at Qantas

The Gillard Government has welcomed Fair Work Australia’s decision to grant the Government’s application to terminate all industrial action in relation to the Qantas dispute.

Minister for Workplace Relations, Senator Chris Evans, said the end to industrial action was exactly the result the Government was seeking.

“The Government intervened in order to get workers back to work and planes back into the sky,” Minister Evans said.

“As a result of the Government’s successful action, Qantas will have to end its grounding of all aircraft and we now look forward to planes returning to the skies as soon as possible.

“This is a win for the 80,000 passengers who were left stranded by Qantas’ action and for the one million people working in tourism across Australia.

“This is the right result for the Australian economy and every effort should now be made by unions, employees and Qantas management to assist stranded travellers and return the domestic and international fleet to normal operations.

“This decision confirms the Fair Work Act is robust and the independent umpire has a critical role to play in the industrial relations framework.”

Senator Evans said the orders issued by Fair Work Australia would result in all industrial action by both Qantas and the unions being immediately terminated.

“Fair Work Australia has acted decisively on the evidence presented at the urgent hearing following the Government’s application under section 424 of the Fair Work Act,” he said.

Senator Evans said it was disappointing that despite all parties repeatedly stating their desire to achieve a negotiated settlement the Government had to take action before Fair Work Australia to terminate industrial action.

Under the orders issued by Fair Work Australia, the parties have at least 21 days during which they can negotiate a settlement.

No industrial action can take place during this period.

Senator Evans said if the parties fail to negotiate an agreement following the granting of the application, Fair Work Australia will then determine an outcome to settle the matter.

Senator Evans’ Media Contacts:
Karen Brown 0413 080 956
Rhys Davies 0411 138 572