Retiring Qantas chair Richard Goyder should ‘leave today’, say unions
The maintenance engineers’ union had some scathing comments for departing Qantas chairman Richard Goyder, who will earn almost $3000 a day for the remainder of his time at the airline.
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Departing Qantas chairman Richard Goyder will earn almost $3000 a day for his “farewell tour” at the airline, as a chorus of union leaders demand he “leave today”.
Mr Goyder had been under a tsunami of pressure following a string of controversies at the airline before he announced his plan to quit as Qantas chairman, effective in late 2024.
The extended notice period outraged a group of Qantas unions, who called for the Perth-based powerbroker to resign immediately.
Transport Workers Union secretary Michael Kaine said Mr Goyder was “treating shareholders, workers and the general community with contempt”.
“If Qantas wants to reset, Richard Goyder needs to leave now,” he said on Wednesday.
Mr Goyder has already collected $3.2 million from Qantas since he joined the board in 2017.
He earned $750,000 in the 2023 financial year, which works out as $2884 a day, excluding weekends.
His decision to leave comes after a horror period since the airline announced a $2.47 billion profit in August.
Qantas has been hit with a $600 million lawsuit from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for selling tickets on “ghost flights”.
The national carrier also had an embarrassing unanimous High Court ruling that found it had illegally sacked 1700 baggage handlers during the pandemic.
Mr Goyder was also at the helm when the pay and bonuses of former chief executive Alan Joyce, who was in line to receive $21.4 million for his final year at Qantas, were decided.
Head of Qantas’ maintenance engineers’ union Steve Purvinas said Mr Goyder should “leave today.”
“His performance in the role does not warrant a 12-month farewell tour,” he said.
Mr Purvinas said Goyder was “out of touch with reality.”
Industry insiders described Mr Goyder’s long goodbye as failing “to read the room”.
Qantas announced wider changes to its board on Wednesday, with Maxine Brenner and Jacqueline Hey both intending to stand down after 10 years at the company’s annual meeting on November 3.
Advertising guru Todd Sampson and Belinda Hutchinson, who is also chancellor at the University of Sydney, will ask for a board extension at the meeting.
Former American Airlines chair Doug Parker and Dr Heather Smith will be officially signed on as new board members in November.
New chief executive Vanessa Hudson will also join the board.
Chief executive of the Australian Shareholders’ Association Rachel Waterhouse had been calling for Mr Goyder to resign.
“We welcome the decision. The timeline has had mixed views from retail shareholders who want to hear from him at the annual meeting,” she said.
“Qantas needs a really good succession plan to restore trust in the airline for customers and shareholders.”
Federal Secretary of the Flight Attendants Association of Australia Teri O’Toole said Qantas needed to win back trust with customers and employees.
“Vanessa Hudson needs to put her stamp on Qantas and it would be difficult to do if the decision makers who supported Alan Joyce have any influence,” she said.
The pilots union had earlier this month called for Mr Goyder to resign.
Australian and International Pilots Association president, Captain Tony Lucas, said: “Obviously, we would prefer things to move more quickly, but we acknowledge that at least now we are heading in the right direction.”
Qantas has also been under fire over its lobbying to block Qatar Airways bid to add 28 weekly flights in Australia.
Flight Centre chief executive Graham Turner has said that would reduce fares on a return flight to Europe by as much as $500.
Mr Goyder fronted a Senate inquiry in Canberra last week where he was asked to explain the airline’s failings.
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie, chair of the committee running the inquiry into the decision to block Qatar’s bid, said Qantas clearly needs to restore its reputation with its loyal customers, staff, shareholders and the Australian public.
“Board and management renewal is critical to that. Recognition that change was needed is a good thing,” she said.
“Mr Goyder has had a very distinguished corporate career and I genuinely wish him well as he manages the leadership transition.”
Mr Goyder was contacted for comment.
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