Herald Sun newspaper claim is quite inaccurate. Read some of the replies below the article by other passengers on the flight. The PA has been misquoted by the passenger. Post #11 above refers.
[QUOTE] We diverted back to KLAX about 4 1/2 hours into the flight when a normal main tank fuel transfer resulted in both the main and standby fuel pumps in the right mid tank failing which trapped 26,800kg fuel, meaning we could not make Australia. Overweight landing into LAX at approx 433,000kg requiring a stabilised approach at 148kt, instead of the normal decelerating approach, hence the heads up to ATC. Fire trucks requested in case of hot brakes.
Quite different fuel systems and procedures compared to the Boeing 744. Fuel pump and pressure switches replaced and arrived safely into MEL Sunday 20 April 2014, just after 7:00pm./[QUOTE]