Pieman gives Qantas ‘new form of flight risk’

The man who shoved a pie in ­the face of Qantas’s CEO says the company has ‘identified a new form of flight risk’.

The same-sex marriage ­opponent who shoved a pie in ­Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce’s face last week says the company has “identified a new form of flight risk” by banning him for life from its planes.

In a further dig at Mr Joyce and his vocal campaign for marriage equality, Tony Overheu told The Australian in an email that he believed businesses should “run healthy operations employing people while providing needed goods and services”.

Tony Overheu. Picture: Nine News

The devout Christian said people such as him were fed up with moral stands taken by business leaders.

“Having rejected the notion CEOs are to assume the role of moral watchdog, the elderly are saying enough is enough,” he said. “Meantime, having determined a new form of flight risk, it seems Qantas are taking what they see as appropriate measures to protect their passengers and employees.”

Mr Overheu, 67, will no longer be able to fly with Qantas and its partner airlines, including Jetstar, Cathay Pacific and ­Emirates.

Police charged him with common assault, damage and trespass after he walked on stage at a Perth business function and pushed a lemon meringue pie into Mr Joyce’s face.

Mr Joyce gave a statement to police and vowed he would not be “bullied” into suppressing his views on social issues.

Mr Overheu will appear in Perth Magistrates Court on June 7.