Was it a disgruntled passenger who made the attack, annoyed at a missed connection?
Or perhaps a former supplier, upset at being overlooked for a contract with the airline?
While none of these could ever justify such an attack, they may well be a little easier to stomach than the actual reason a former farmer calmly walked on stage to physically make his statement.
Pie thrown in face of @Qantas chief Alan Joyce while in Perth. https://t.co/IOrUGlTbg8 #ausbiz #7News pic.twitter.com/XichTGnL5i
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) May 9, 2017
Tony Overheu, the man police have since charged over the incident, told Perth’s CPR radio station Wednesday that he did it to protest Joyce’s stance on marriage equality – and his attempts to “bulldoze Australia socially against its will”.
“From my reading it would appear that Alan Joyce is very much part of a network trying to subvert the federal parliamentary process around the issue of marriage equality.”
Joyce has previously joined a number of other chief executives of large companies to sign a joint letter to the government in support of marriage equality.
Joyce told reporters he will press charges over the incident, and that he won’t be deterred from continuing to take a stand.
“It is part of my role, it is part of every corporate leader’s role, to have a view on social and community issues,” he said. “We know there is a business case out there, a lot of our customers will fly with Qantas because of its role in the community, its role in social life.”
“It’s important for our shareholders, our employees, and our customers. It’s called good corporate social responsibility.
“I’m a big believer in the great Australian expression a fair government it’s all about giving people equality.”
Today, Conrad Liveris, a diversity consultant and occasional Women’s Agenda contributor, shared with Perth Now why the incident had left him feeling shaken, and why it also reminds us why we need marriage equality.
“His pie throwing was the physical example of what gay people like me face all the time,” he wrote. “Equality won’t change his mind but it will put us on a fair footing.”
At a time when our politicians are unable and unwilling to take a social stand – despite their previously stated personal stance on issues like marriage equality – corporate leaders now have an opportunity to speak up and do more, and it’s reassuring to see them doing so. These are leaders who see the merit of such a stand in supporting the employees that work for them, the consumers that purchase from them, and the shareholders that want to see rising profits.
Here’s an idea for Overheu. If you really have a problem with Alan Joyce’s stance on marriage equality, just don’t fly Qantas.
And make sure you don’t buy from Coles (Westfarmers’ MD Richard Goyder signed that letter) or bank with ANZ (Shayne Elliott) or drive a Holden (managing director Mark Bernhard is also on the list).
You may also want to think twice about flying Virgin Australia. John Borghetti didn’t sign the letter, but his business does proudly support Australia’s only LGBTIQ community radio station, and he has also publicly stated his support for marriage equality.