Qantas announced on 10 November 2026 that about 850 corporate roles will go under a multi-year outsourcing deal with Accenture. The work moves mostly to Accenture teams in India, with some staying in Australia. The first changes are expected by mid-2027, starting in finance, procurement, people (HR) and marketing operations. If your role is one of them, you have roughly six to eight months to get ready. Under the National Employment Standards, someone on $2,200 a week with seven years' service would get at least $37,400 in redundancy and notice pay before leave is added.
What Qantas has said, and what it hasn't
CEO Vanessa Hudson told staff in an internal email that it was “hard news for some” and apologised for the uncertainty. Qantas says it will consult affected staff and their union over the coming months and redeploy people where possible, including into its Australian operations. It hasn't said how many roles will become redundancies and how many may transfer to Accenture, and it hasn't published a department-by-department schedule.
The Australian Services Union says most affected roles are Sydney-based and that it will fight for every job. Qantas disputes the union's claim that it had earlier ruled out offshoring. For your household, the practical point is this: nothing is final for individuals yet, but the clock has started. The months before a role ends are the cheapest time to prepare.
Your money timeline: November 2026 to mid-2027
The minimum you'd receive: three illustrative examples
The National Employment Standards set redundancy pay by years of continuous service: 4 weeks (1–2 years), 6 (2–3), 7 (3–4), 8 (4–5), 10 (5–6), 11 (6–7), 13 (7–8), 14 (8–9), 16 (9–10) and 12 weeks (10+ years, where long service leave usually applies). Minimum notice for more than five years' service is 4 weeks, or 3 weeks for 3–5 years (plus one week if you're over 45 with at least two years' service). Employers often pay out notice instead of you working it.
| Illustrative example | Weekly base pay | NES redundancy | Notice (paid out) | Total before leave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mia, 4 years, procurement analyst | $1,600 | 8 wks = $12,800 | 3 wks = $4,800 | $17,600 |
| Priya, 7 years, finance team lead | $2,200 | 13 wks = $28,600 | 4 wks = $8,800 | $37,400 |
| Karen, 12 years, marketing manager | $2,900 | 12 wks = $34,800 | 4 wks* = $11,600 | $46,400 |
Illustrative examples, not real employees. NES minimums only; enterprise agreements or contracts may pay more. *If Karen is over 45, her minimum notice rises to 5 weeks ($14,500). Accrued annual leave and long service leave are paid on top.
How much of it is tax-free?
For 2026–27, the ATO's tax-free limit for a genuine redundancy is $13,598 plus $6,801 for each complete year of service. That's $40,802 for Mia, $61,205 for Priya and $95,210 for Karen. In all three examples, the NES redundancy amount sits under the limit. Notice paid out and unused leave are taxed differently. Note that the limits for 2027–28, when most changes are expected, haven't been published yet.
$37,400 sounds like a lot until you divide it by your monthly outgoings. For many households, that's five or six months of runway, not a windfall.
Turn a payout into a plan
An announcement with a mid-2027 date gives you something most people never get: time. Layoff-Ready: The Income Shock Playbook walks you through what to do with it, step by step.
- Work out your runway in months from your payout, savings and essential bills
- A cut-first list and a 30/60/90-day plan for when an income stops
- Questions and scripts for HR meetings, lenders and providers
100% digital PDF. Nothing is shipped and there are no shipping fees. Download right after purchase, then print it or use it on your phone, tablet or computer. One-time purchase.
Runway, calculated
Divide your expected total (redundancy plus notice, after tax) by your essential monthly spending. At $6,500 a month of essentials, Mia's $17,600 is about 2.7 months, Priya's $37,400 about 5.8 months and Karen's $46,400 about 7.1 months (before tax on the notice portion and before leave). If your number is under three months, the next few pay cycles are where you build the gap.
If you're not at Qantas
The union warned other companies may follow, and offshoring deals have already reached Telstra and Coles. The same timeline works for anyone in a back-office role. We covered similar moves in David Jones Store Closures: Your Redundancy, in $ and Canva Layoffs 2026: Redundancy Pay, Calculated. For the conversations themselves, use Redundancy Australia 2026: 8 Scripts Before You Sign Anything. To see why your pay already buys less, read Wage Price Index Sept 2026: Your Real Pay Cut.
Job news can be stressful. If it's keeping you up at night, talk to someone you trust, your EAP (if your employer offers one) or a professional. For free, independent guidance, see Moneysmart and the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94).
FAQ
Which Qantas jobs are being cut?
About 850 corporate roles, starting in finance, procurement, people (HR) and marketing operations. Most affected roles are reported to be Sydney-based. Qantas says it will consult and redeploy where possible, and individual outcomes haven't been decided.
How much redundancy pay will I get in Australia?
The NES minimum ranges from 4 weeks' pay (1–2 years' service) to 16 weeks (9–10 years), dropping to 12 weeks from 10 years. Your enterprise agreement or contract may give you more. Fair Work's calculator lets you check your own case.
Is redundancy pay taxed?
A genuine redundancy payment is tax-free up to $13,598 plus $6,801 per complete year of service (2026–27 limits). Amounts above that, notice paid out and unused leave are taxed under different rules. A registered tax agent can check your situation.
Sources
- ABC News, “Qantas to cut 850 corporate jobs as it moves roles overseas in Accenture deal”, 10 Nov 2026 – abc.net.au
- Aviation A2Z, “Qantas to Cut 850 Jobs as Accenture Moves Ops”, 10 Nov 2026 – aviationa2z.com
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Redundancy Information Statement – dewr.gov.au
- Australian Taxation Office, Employment termination payments – key rates and thresholds 2026–27 – ato.gov.au
- Fair Work Ombudsman, redundancy pay and notice (NES, Fair Work Act 2009 s119) – fairwork.gov.au
- Moneysmart (ASIC), Losing your job – moneysmart.gov.au
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Educational content only. Not personalised financial advice.