SyncVibe

THE man who hit Qantas CEO Alan Joyce in the face with a cream pie says he chose lemon meringue because it appeared to be the “softest and least likely to do any injury” to the airline boss.

Tony Overheu spoke with 6PR’s Breakfast show about targeting Mr Joyce in front of 500 people at a business breakfast in Perth.

“I bought the cake the previous evening, popped it in my work ute that I own at 6 o’clock yesterday morning,” Mr Overheu told Steve and Baz.

Mr Overheu said he had the cake wrapped up like a birthday present to make it compact, walked in the front door and waited for a couple of hours behind a curtain until everyone had arrived.

In a bizarre and rambling statement provided to 6PR, he also implied that his actions were triggered by corporate support for same-sex marriage.

“Middle Australia completely rejects corporate bullying aimed at social engineering,” the statement said.

“Qantas is insulting many staff and passengers with their boarding pass propaganda.

“What Airbnb is doing in Canberra airport is highly offensive.

“Outfits like Wesfarmers and Holden loose (sic) huge credibility supporting such campaigns.

“The blatant bullying and extortion of Coopers Brewery was totally reprehensible.

“CEOs need to respect Australia is a democracy where backdoor attempts to subvert the clear wishes of the overwhelming majority will cost companies (sic) bottom lines.

“Allan (sic) Joyce is paid $13 million to run airlines not bulldoze Australia socially against its will.”

Mr Joyce had just started speaking at the packed event at Perth’s exclusive Hyatt Regency hotel when he was approached by Mr Overheu, who was wearing a suit, and rubbed the pie in his face.

He then walked off the stage without saying a word or betraying any emotion.

Mr Overheu said he chose the $25.95 lemon meringue pie because he didn’t want to hurt Mr Joyce.

“Absolutely, he’s got a responsible job to do,” he told the program.

“I see myself as a law-abiding citizen and it’s no joke to do what I did yesterday.

“My family are outraged, my wife is at my throat. I didn’t understand that I’ve breached the state’s criminal code and the police are dealing with it, so clearly I regret that.”

Mr Overheu was pounced on by security, taken away and arrested. Mr Joyce, whose face, suit jacket, shirt and tie were covered in cream, also left the room to clean himself up.

He received a round of applause when he returned without his jacket and joked about that incident before resuming his speech spruiking the national carrier’s recently announced direct flights to London.

There were gasps among the crowd when the incident occurred shortly after 8am at the Leadership Matters breakfast hosted by The West Australian newspaper. Guests were supposed to grab name tags on the way to the sold-out event, but security is not usually strict at such functions.

Police confirmed they were called to the hotel over an assault and had a man in custody.

It is not yet clear whether Mr Overheu will be charged.

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