Talking points
- Greg Lynn was a Jetstar pilot when he was charged with the high country murders of Russell Hill and Carol Clay.
- He lost his job after the charges were laid.
- Although unable to work while in custody, he launched a claim for unfair dismissal with the Fair Work Commission.
- He has now withdrawn that claim.
The accused killer who lost his job as a Jetstar pilot after he was charged with murdering two elderly campers in Victoria’s high country has withdrawn his unfair dismissal claim against the budget airline.
Greg Lynn lodged the claim after he was sacked in January with two months’ pay, plus unpaid leave entitlements. He had worked for the airline since 2007.
A four-wheel-drive impounded by police and (inset left) missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay, and (inset right) Greg Lynn, who has been charged with their murders.
Police charged Mr Lynn in November with two counts of murder over the deaths of Russell Hill and Carol Clay in the Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria’s high country on March 20, 2020.
After his dismissal, the 55-year-old father of three lodged papers in the Fair Work Commission.
When first reported in early March, the case attracted global attention. The Age has now learned that Mr Lynn has discontinued his unfair dismissal action.
In January, the Transport Workers Union sent a letter to Jetstar telling the airline that the sacking should be rescinded because there was a lack of procedural fairness in the decision to terminate Mr Lynn’s employment.
Following Mr Lynn discontinuing his case, that letter has been withdrawn, a union source said, given the union’s concerns had been eased over Jetstar’s application of its termination policy.
“This was a test case, and we were concerned the way a particular policy was applied could set a precedent affecting thousands of workers in the Qantas and Jetstar group,” a union source said.
Mr Lynn’s submission to the Fair Work Commission had said he was on remand and therefore could not attend work. The union’s letter pointed out that “Captain Lynn had not been convicted of any crime”.
At the time, a spokeswoman for the union said: “The TWU is not involved in this criminal justice matter. Consistent with regular practice, the union has provided support to this member for Fair Work conciliation. This has been done because union members are entitled to representation and procedural fairness for industrial matters.”
Jetstar had opposed the unfair dismissal claim.
“Jetstar makes no comment on the criminal charges, noting this matter is still before the courts, however, it’s clear that Mr Lynn is on remand pending trial and would not physically be able to perform his duties for a significant period of time,” a spokeswoman said.
Mr Hill, 74, and Ms Clay, 73, disappeared during a trip through Victoria’s high country in 2020.
The pair last communicated using Mr Hill’s high-frequency radio as they set up camp in the Wonnangatta Valley, a secluded pocket of the Victorian Alpine National Park without mobile phone reception.
Their tent and some belongings were found burnt to the ground next to Mr Hill’s Toyota LandCruiser on March 27 at a campsite near the Dry River Creek track.
Police arrested Mr Lynn last November in the remote Arbuckle Junction in Gippsland. The remains of the two campers were found near Dargo about a week later.
Mr Lynn worked as a captain for Qatar Airways for five years before taking up a similar role with Jetstar.
He has been in custody since his arrest and is remanded to reappear in court on May 31.
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