Howard shoe thower wanted global attention

Former Australian PM John Howard. Photo / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - An anti-war protester is not offering any apologies for throwing his shoes at John Howard, saying he wanted world-wide attention.

Peter Gray lobbed both his shoes at the former prime minister during his appearance on the ABC's Q&A, echoing an infamous incident involving former US president George Bush.

After explaining that he supported the US-led invasion in Iraq based on the intelligence available at the time, Mr Howard was approached by the protester who removed his shoes and threw them in his direction.

Mr Gray says he didn't want to cause chaos on the set but did want to attract as much attention as possible.

"I wanted to throw my shoes at John Howard and have the rest of the world see it, certainly," he told ABC Radio in Melbourne.

He said the war in Iraq is a very polarising issue but he rejects any suggestion that his anti-war protest itself was violent.

"I think it's rather ridiculous to call it an act of violence when the real subject of the conversation should be Australia's involvement in an illegal war and John Howard's responsibility for that," he said.

Mr Gray had attended the ABC program on Monday evening because he wanted to make a political statement.

But when pressed if that meant his shoe protest was premeditated, he said: "I suppose the thought had crossed my mind, certainly."

After Mr Gray had lobbed the shoes at his target, he shouted words to the effect: "That is for Iraqi dead."

A female audience member then shouted: "You've got blood on your hands", before walking out of the studio.

Mr Grey man was led away by ABC staff.

Mr Howard appeared unfazed by the incident and a day later was laughing off the protest.

Critics have called Mr Gray an "idiot" for his actions while others have questioned his half-hearted effort in shoe-throwing.

The second shoe he lobbed hardly came anywhere near the former prime minister.

Mr Gray explained that it is a very difficult to stand up and conduct such a protest, especially because such action is against his nature.

"I certainly didn't want to hurt the man but I certainly wanted to make my point known," he said.

"Quite a few people said I throw like a girl."

- AAP