Qantas chairman Richard Goyder’s reckoning could come as early as the company’s November 3 AGM

If Qantas chairman Richard Goyder’s position was vulnerable before, after losing an appeal in the High Court over the sacking of 1700 workers, it’s increasingly untenable.

The Qantas chairman must fall on his sword.

Richard Goyder’s position was vulnerable last week, after this week’s High Court decision it is increasingly untenable.

On Wednesday the High Court rejected Qantas’ appeal, upholding a federal-court decision, finding the airline acted illegally in sacking 1700 ground crew.

The ruling was another devastating blow to the flying kangaroo, one that could cost it upwards of $200m. The airline is already facing a record penalty of $250m after being sued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for allegedly engaging in “false, misleading or deceptive conduct”.

Qantas chairman Richard Goyder must fall on his sword. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Qantas issued a statement accepting the court’s decision and apologising to sacked workers but it will not be required to reinstate the jobs: “We deeply regret the personal impact the outsourcing decision had on all those affected and we sincerely apologise for that.”

The apology was not enough for Michael Kaine, the Transport Workers’ Union national secretary, who has called for the board to be replaced: “The Joyce regime has been toppled, but the airline cannot achieve the reset necessary for its survival under the same board that resided over the largest case of illegal sackings in Australian corporate history.”

Australian Council of Superannuation Investors chief executive Louise Davidson has also put the airline on notice: “Investors will be expecting the Qantas board to reflect upon the various performance issues emerging in their consideration of pay outcomes for Alan Joyce and other executives, as well as broader accountability issues.”

I wrote last week about a reckoning for Goyder and the entire Qantas board who oversaw and endorsed the self-serving, damaging decisions Alan Joyce made. That reckoning may come as early as the company’s AGM on November 3.