Qantas has asked the Federal Court for leniency in applying financial penalties for its illegal sacking of 1820 workers, saying the airline has learned its lessons and taken steps to reinvigorate its culture.

But the Transport Workers Union called for the maximum $121 million fine, with barrister Noel Hutley arguing “nothing has been done about” the cultural issues that led Qantas to engage in the country’s largest-ever illegal sacking.