Even if they do pay it all back and more, they're still ahead - and that's the problem! So long as they can see year-on-year savings in the 10's or 100's of millions, there's absolute no disincentive for another company - or Quaint-asre even - to pull a similar stunt.
Yes this is the problem and the point is made in today’s AFR. QF are ahead 100mil a year by illegally sacking their staff. The only losers here are the staff who were fired. QF even saved money by continually taking their case back through Court as well.