An ABC News report on October 28, 2024, details allegations that Qantas provided dozens of free upgrades to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, facilitated by former boss Alan Joyce, raising concerns about undue corporate influence on Australian politics.

An AFR report highlights that in the 12 months ending June 30, 2024, Qantas secured $25.6 million in flight bookings from parliamentarians and their staff, reflecting a deep-rooted and potentially concerning reliance on political clientele. The report underscores the airline's dominance in government travel arrangements, fueling concerns over preferential treatment and the entrenchment of political elites.

The High Court ruled that Qantas illegally fired and outsourced over 1,600 ground staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, violating the Fair Work Act and undermining workers' rights.

On September 13, 2023, the High Court upheld a ruling confirming that Qantas unlawfully outsourced 1,683 ground crew jobs to avoid negotiating improved pay and conditions, thereby undermining workers' rights. This decision imposes significant compensation and penalties on the airline, highlighting its labor practices as detrimental to employee rights.

The High Court of Australia upheld previous judgments that found Qantas unlawfully outsourced nearly 2,000 ground crew during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent them from exercising future workplace rights, violating the Fair Work Act.

In a landmark decision, the Australian High Court ruled in favor of the Transport Workers’ Union after Qantas mass sacked 1,700 ground staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline had replaced its workers with outside contractors to cut costs, a move deemed to violate the Fair Work Act and undermine workers' rights. The ruling, coupled with the resignation of CEO Alan Joyce, highlights Qantas's exploitative labor practices and the resulting union protest.

Qantas actively lobbied the Australian government to block additional flights proposed by Qatar Airways. The move was defended by CEO Alan Joyce as protecting Australia’s national interest, but critics argue it was a strategic effort to protect the airline’s profits at the expense of fair competition and lower airfares.

At Qantas’ AGM, shareholders voted 23.56% in favor of a resolution demanding a review of the company’s human rights risk management in relation to its contract with the Australian Government for involuntary transportation of refugees and asylum seekers. The resolution calls on Qantas to assess and disclose the human rights risks associated with these operations.

In 1965, the Qantas Gallery in Sydney hosted an exhibition featuring 145 of Sidney Nolan’s Gallipoli series to coincide with Anzac Day. This event highlighted Australia’s complex military heritage and promoted critical reflection on war, thereby reinforcing narratives that challenge authoritarian glorification of military history.