Adam Thorn

The mystery passenger’s bid in the innovative auction was the equivalent of the points earned from 1,500 Sydney to Melbourne one-way economy flights.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the money was “targeted” to ensure financial prudence and argued the government “cannot keep on borrowing money forever”.

The three-week program, held across Queensland, the NT and Evans Head in NSW, involved RAAF Classic and Super Hornets, F-35s, Globemasters and P-8A Poseidons.

The union’s national secretary, Michael Kaine, denied there would be too much ill-feeling between the airline and ex-employees for them to come back.

The airline said it will “oppose any such orders” to reinstate workers or pay compensation after the Federal Court found it breached the Fair Work Act by making 2,000 staff redundant.

More than three-quarters of Qantas workers outsourced by the airline want their jobs back, a new survey has revealed.