Same over here where I work, low taxes (10% of my income) means the company gets to pay less for me to nett an acceptable take home.
......and if you pay higher taxation in OZ, you need a higher salary for an acceptable nett pay. This means that when YOUR salary is used as a yardstick for salaries in OZ by the airline/aircraft operator (and they do), the unions negotiate on our behalf (whether you belong to one or not) for what should be an acceptable outcome. Such negotiations benefits both parties.
No company board worth their own salary would agree to an outcome that is detrimental, therefore business practices ,good or bad,beyond that is their responsibility.
Qantas lost the competition edge because they alienated their own customers and estranged their employees. Those are the critical factors and their employee relations practices would do well in a John Cleese training video about what NOT to do.
