I find something quite chilling and disturbing in the decision by Qantas to invoke a lifetime ban on pieman Tony Overheu for his assault on Alan Joyce. In the minds of many Australians Alan Joyce has misused and abused his public capacity and profile and the corporate clout and privilege of Qantas, in a very specialised and restricted market, to prosecute his personal politics and social agenda. It would seem that he is now using this personal dispute in a spiteful, vindictive get square, to extract revenge by restricting or at least limiting the freedom of movement of a fellow Australian by banning him from Qantas and all other Qantas associated airlines. And it hasn’t even been to court yet, where guilt, innocence and penalties are determined. Is there a human rights angle to this? What access and what options are available to Mr Overheu or Mr Joyce’s fellow employees, shareholders and the travelling public that don’t share his “progressive” views or disagree with him brutally using his corporate capacity to prosecute his personal predilections? It was Alan Joyce who decided to step out from behind his desk to enter the world of politics and social engineering and he should have been more astute and wired as to what he was venturing into including being “pied”. May that be the worst thing that happens to him.
Jim Ball, Narrabeen, NSW
When Qantas CEO Alan Joyce stood up to the business-destroying tactics of the unions, I couldn’t have been more impressed with his courage and determination. That Joyce has chosen to lay charges against the man who allegedly shoved a meringue pie into his face is his prerogative, although shruggi…ng off the incident would have been more mature.
But to ban the alleged perpetrator from Qantas for life shows petty vindictiveness. The line between his personal views and those of the company he leads has blurred beyond recognition. Companies exist for the benefit of customers and shareholders, not to push any social barrow.
Bruce Phillips, Mount Claremont, WA
Are we meant to feel safer on Qantas flights now that Tony Overheu has been banned for life?
Peter Barnes, Revesby, NSW
Does the banning of Tony Overheu from Qantas flights mean that anyone else who disagrees with Alan Joyce will be banned? So much for the “Spirit of Australia”.
Alexander Haege, Tamarama, NSW