Last week I shared the video of a man pieing Qantas’ CEO Alan Joyce in the face during a business breakfast in Perth.
A man is being questioned by police after throwing a cream pie into the face of Qantas boss Alan Joyce at a Perth business breakfast. #7News pic.twitter.com/Urn9faMi98
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) May 9, 2017
While I’ve seen people being pied as a juvenile prank, this was a bit different, as this was an older man who had a serious look on his face while he was doing it, and clearly didn’t find it funny. We quickly found out the guy’s motives — as it turns out, 67 year old Tony Overheu decided to pie Joyce to make a statement about marriage equality. Joyce is openly gay, and Qantas is a big supporter of marriage equality in Australia. Overheu doesn’t like that, and thinks that Qantas is “bulldozing” their agenda.
Having learned about the guy’s motives, Joyce decided to press charges, though it looks like he has more than that coming his way — the man was now also slapped with a lifetime Qantas ban. Per the Western Australian:
It is understood the ban was imposed on Friday. It will prohibit Mr Overheu from traveling on flights operated by Qantas, Jetstar or any partner airline, such as Emirates.
He is due to appear in Perth Magistrate’s Court on June 7 on assault and trespass charges.
The part that’s most interesting is that he’s also supposedly banned from partner airlines. I’m not sure if I believe that, or if perhaps that was just misunderstood, but rather they just mean Qantas’ subsidiaries.
This guy wanted to make a point about a subject in a very disrespectful way, and now Qantas is making a point as well, as they should.
Qantas CEO once again treating the company as if he owns it, all this stuff about painting the aircraft pink, pushing RA to sack Falou, telling the crew not to start the PA with “ladies & gentleman and sponsoring gay event in Sydney is pathetic, shareholders should be consulted first as it’s a public listed company. I am a retired B744 training Captain and if had asked me not to address my passengers as “ladies...
Qantas CEO once again treating the company as if he owns it, all this stuff about painting the aircraft pink, pushing RA to sack Falou, telling the crew not to start the PA with “ladies & gentleman and sponsoring gay event in Sydney is pathetic, shareholders should be consulted first as it’s a public listed company. I am a retired B744 training Captain and if had asked me not to address my passengers as “ladies and gentleman”, I would have told him to take a hike.
No way other airlines are going to follow Qantas’s ban not even the team members, all this guy has to do is buy his ticket on any one of the great Asian airlines and ignore the high priced Qantas tickets. I can show this guy thousands of ways to travel in comfort and style by avoiding Qantas altogether.
And the man will never ever be imprisoned for his action, when real criminals are released on good behaviour bond.
The West Australian, not Western!
This is unsurprising but totally OTT from Qantas. The guy is facing criminal charges, will be punished....that should be the end of it. It's not up to Joyce to make decisions about who can or cannot fly, especially when it's unrelated to safety/security. That Joyce has made this determination will come as no surprise to those familiar with his (self-anointed God-like status).
I'm 110% in favour of marriage equality but it's not right that...
This is unsurprising but totally OTT from Qantas. The guy is facing criminal charges, will be punished....that should be the end of it. It's not up to Joyce to make decisions about who can or cannot fly, especially when it's unrelated to safety/security. That Joyce has made this determination will come as no surprise to those familiar with his (self-anointed God-like status).
I'm 110% in favour of marriage equality but it's not right that Joyce is spending shareholder ( and taxpayer) money pushing the case.
The guy who pied him is a ratbag and a nutter.
This is absolutely scary. What an overreach of power. Imagine if this guy pied the CEO in the face and the CEO was against marriage equality and they banned him, you'd be appalled by the use of power. Remember, he wasn't on a plane and had no contract of carriage. Should Quantas ban everyone who has committed a criminal act against any of their employees, even away from planes? Should they ban people who protest...
This is absolutely scary. What an overreach of power. Imagine if this guy pied the CEO in the face and the CEO was against marriage equality and they banned him, you'd be appalled by the use of power. Remember, he wasn't on a plane and had no contract of carriage. Should Quantas ban everyone who has committed a criminal act against any of their employees, even away from planes? Should they ban people who protest for things they don't like (Most protests involve breaking the law in some way)?
Maybe in Australia. Glad I don't live there.
The guy yet to apppear in court with this the CEO has over reacted, he could used this incident in a positive way , like met the guy sit down for a discussion , QF used the interview on their flights; it's the Australian Way to talk differences over a beer. QF is Australia to the world, majority owned by the people of Australian. Mr Joyce is Irish, he failed to understand the conservative culture...
The guy yet to apppear in court with this the CEO has over reacted, he could used this incident in a positive way , like met the guy sit down for a discussion , QF used the interview on their flights; it's the Australian Way to talk differences over a beer. QF is Australia to the world, majority owned by the people of Australian. Mr Joyce is Irish, he failed to understand the conservative culture of Australia, his views is all good in Sydney, Melbourne but not outside the 4 cities. Mr Joyce has used QF in his position to settle a personal score, form that reason he has to be fired.
Ben, it is NOT Qantas' ffs! it is Qantas's. Do they not teach proper English in schools?
In Australia, photo ID can be requested, and you are meant to carry it, but it isn't checked by practice. Travelling with kids increases the chances of being checked, particularly if it appears on the surface that you are not a parent (eg grandparents are more likely to be asked).
Also in Australia, anyone can access the domestic terminals - you don't need to be flying, so you can see people off to the gate...
In Australia, photo ID can be requested, and you are meant to carry it, but it isn't checked by practice. Travelling with kids increases the chances of being checked, particularly if it appears on the surface that you are not a parent (eg grandparents are more likely to be asked).
Also in Australia, anyone can access the domestic terminals - you don't need to be flying, so you can see people off to the gate (and then grab a drink at the Qantas Club if you are platinum). You can also fly domestically with as much liquids as you like. The only thing I have checked is whether my deodorant has a fitting lid (Brisbane and Hobart are particularly narky about it). The liquids thing always amuses me, as there are some domestic flights in Australia that are longer than trans-Atlantic flights.
In the UK, some form of photo ID is required for domestic and Ireland flights, and driver's licences are acceptable. If flying from a terminal that also has international flights, you are likely to be photographed at security, and that photo is checked either at the gate or when entering a domestic only section of the terminal.
Within the Schengen states in Europe, photo ID should be carried, but is rarely checked. Exceptions occur during periods is heightened border security. The day after the Charlie Hedbo attacks in Paris and a state of emergency declared, there were checks (and in my case as an Non-European citizen, a passport check) when I flew between Marseilles and Charleroi.
Within the European Economic Area (EEA) but between Schengen and non-Schengen counties (eg UK / Ireland / Croatia to France / Germany / Italy / Greece, etc), EU, Norwegian, Icelandic and Swiss citizens can use a national ID card instead of a passport. All non-EEA citizens need a passport for these flights.
In the US, the only ID TSA will accept from non-US or non-Canadians is a passport. I've tried with an Australian and UK driver's licence before, and in short they don't think it is government issued ID (which was the actual requirement a couple of years ago - haven't bothered to check if that has changed recently). Pointless arguing with the TSA that it is acceptable, as you won't get through.
[Sarcasm mode on]
As a result, I have lobbied my local members of the Australian Federal, NSW State and UK parliaments to no longer recognise US-based governments using the Brazilian method of reciprocal treatment of their citizens when travelling (eg only US and Japanese citizens are photographed and fingerprinted at the Brazilian border). For some reason they haven't taken up my cause.
[Sarcasm mode off]
Good!
Whether or not AJ is gay isn't the issue, there is a huge amount of LGBT people that work at Qantas and I feel that AJ is making a stance for all of them.
It still leaves me in disbelief that a country that voted for trump as president had marriage equality before Australia.
Rob - If true, it is indeed slightly ironic. The UAE however does not execute homosexuals. Treats them barbaricly yes, but it doesn't kill them.
DavidF - Companies campaign ALL THE TIME. Its called corporate responsibility - working to make the world a better place for their customers.
Australian Airlines do require photo identification be produced if requested but the only time such a request has been made to me has been when travelling with small children - and that was some time ago.
And on another thread, the news bulletins in Australia are reporting that the government are now considering banning laptops in cabins on some flights.
Yes, I'd guess the partner ban is just about codeshares.
It is Qantas's policy that anyone who harrasses or attacks its staff is banned from travelling with the group.
Any form of violence against another for what ever reason is intolerable, no?
Firstly, I actually do support marriage equality personally.
But why is an airline campaigning for something which is against the law in its country? Australia does not have legal gay marriage. Where do you draw the line? An airline campaigning for drugs to be legalised? For the age of consent to be lowered, or even abolished?
It's an airline. Not a lobbying company.
And didn't Qantas get into bed with Emirates anyway? Remove pork from...
Firstly, I actually do support marriage equality personally.
But why is an airline campaigning for something which is against the law in its country? Australia does not have legal gay marriage. Where do you draw the line? An airline campaigning for drugs to be legalised? For the age of consent to be lowered, or even abolished?
It's an airline. Not a lobbying company.
And didn't Qantas get into bed with Emirates anyway? Remove pork from its flights to London? Route all passengers to Europe via Dubai where homosexuality is a crime and Israeli citizens are unwelcome?
I don't think the CEO should be pursuing personal agendas - however worthy - while funnelling passengers through a place like Dubai.
@Gennel - works for me
@James - That's correct, we don't need to produce ID to fly domestically here in Aus. Back in the really old days of printed tickets there were times I was asked for a driver's licence but it's so long ago that part of me thinks I am imagining that.
I've never been asked in the US or UK to produce ID when I've travelled domestically either ... maybe I just look harmless?
@james @Jumpseatflyer
When I went to Australia no one checks your id at security -- everyone can enter the departure area without purchasing a ticket. In other words, he can just purchase a ticket in someone else's name, print the boarding pass at home, and board a Qantas domestic flight with no problem at all.
This is frightening, there could have been chemicals and who knows what buried in that pie. Even an unintended allergic reaction could have had huge consequences. Obviously there is a ban, but I'm quite glad charges are being pressed.
@Jason: In the EU you don't need an ID either and I am wondering based on what they will enforce the ban. Simply the name on the ticket? Would they give a redress number to people with the same name?
If this ban is also valid on Emirates operated flights with Emirates ticket number, that would be very surprising to me and - as it was mentioned - the irony would be huge. I can...
@Jason: In the EU you don't need an ID either and I am wondering based on what they will enforce the ban. Simply the name on the ticket? Would they give a redress number to people with the same name?
If this ban is also valid on Emirates operated flights with Emirates ticket number, that would be very surprising to me and - as it was mentioned - the irony would be huge. I can imagine that QF will simply not issue tickets on their prefix anymore regardless of the operating carrier.
GOOD. He gets what he deserves.
Jason - Do you really need no ID to fly domestic in Australia ? Not a driving license or anything to board a plane ?
"It will prohibit Mr Overheu from travelling on flights operated by Qantas, Jetstar or any partner airline, such as Emirates"
The irony of an airline subsidized by a government that treats homosexuality as a crime punishable by death banning someone for a face-pieing due to his anti-homosexuality stance is quite large.
Not saying I have much sympathy for the idiot who pied the CEO, but you who has even more extreme responses to publicly pro-gay...
"It will prohibit Mr Overheu from travelling on flights operated by Qantas, Jetstar or any partner airline, such as Emirates"
The irony of an airline subsidized by a government that treats homosexuality as a crime punishable by death banning someone for a face-pieing due to his anti-homosexuality stance is quite large.
Not saying I have much sympathy for the idiot who pied the CEO, but you who has even more extreme responses to publicly pro-gay views that a face pieing? The benefactors of Emirates and Qatar airlines...
Well you don't actually need an id to fly domestically in australia so I don't really see the point of this ban.
"The part that’s most interesting is that he’s also supposedly banned from partner airlines. I’m not sure if I believe that, or if perhaps that was just misunderstood, but rather they just mean Qantas’ subsidiaries."
Perhaps what's meant is he will be banned from purchasing a Qantas issued ticket on the partner carriers (and traveling on such tickets due to their not being issued).
I've heard of homophobic reactions but this guy is over the top! Someone should turn his calendar so it reads 2017. Glad he was banned and hope he gets about 5 years in prison.
*browser
@Gennel -- still clickable here. Is it a browswer issue? You just have to click on the actual logo.
I think AJ is completely in the right here. I actually wouldn't be suprised though if the Western Australian was right and he has been banned from all partner airlines. I mean, corporates everywhere support LGBTQ rights everywhere so I don't think it would be particularly hard for AJ to influence his peers into getting said ban enforced.
Good the guy deserves to be banned. Whatever his political affiliation, the standard should be the same for anyone. Period.
You really need to redo your banner. Before it was clickable to go back to the main page of the site but after you introduced the new design of the site It's just an image now and clicking doesn't do anything. I hope you can work on this other than that the redesign is awesome.