Pauline Hanson, an Australian politician known for her populist and far-right views, likely anticipated that her recent trip to Europe would attract significant media attention. However, the focus shifted dramatically when one of her party’s MPs was caught on national television in a heated exchange with his dog.
As the leader of the One Nation party, which is currently enjoying favorable polling results, Hanson’s European agenda included leisure time in Italy with mining magnate Gina Rinehart, participating in a conservative conference in London, and appearing on a podcast with far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson.
On Monday evening, Barnaby Joyce, a member of One Nation, appeared on the ABC’s 7.30 program from his residence in New South Wales to defend Hanson’s controversial European trip and her inflammatory remarks. However, his efforts to address the situation were overshadowed by a tense moment involving his dog, Stella.
Joyce, who previously served as Australia’s deputy prime minister and switched from the mainstream National party to the more right-leaning One Nation last December, is familiar with media scrutiny. This incident was not his first brush with international headlines related to dogs, recalling a previous encounter with Johnny Depp’s pets in 2015.
During a challenging interview segment, host Sarah Ferguson confronted Joyce about his transition to One Nation, suggesting it was leading him towards intolerance and racial discrimination. She probed whether he was truly comfortable with the direction in which Hanson was taking the party.
As Ferguson posed her question, Joyce’s attention appeared to drift off-screen. He began to respond, but abruptly shouted, “Sit down!” to Stella. After acknowledging the interruption, he continued his response, steering clear of Ferguson’s critical inquiry and instead highlighting One Nation’s rising popularity in polls.
Joyce later expressed regret for the disturbance caused by his dog, while Ferguson encouraged him to focus on the question at hand. In response, Joyce admonished her, stating, “Don’t be rude. Otherwise, this interview will come to a grinding halt.”
Subsequently, Joyce explained to the Guardian that Stella, a cross between a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and a Border Collie, had been barking persistently from beneath the deck during the interview.
According to the latest Newspoll, One Nation is currently polling at about 30% of the primary vote, putting them on par with the Labor party, which holds a majority in the Australian government.
Having served as the MP for New England since 2013, and with a history as a senator for Queensland, Joyce is no stranger to both parliamentary life and viral media moments. In 2024, while still with the National party, he gained attention when the Daily Mail Australia released footage of him lying on the pavement in Canberra during a phone call, using expletives.
In 2019, Joyce stirred controversy with a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), in which he expressed frustration with government interference while commenting on climate change. Earlier, as agriculture minister in 2015, he made headlines by forcing actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard to film an apology after they attempted to smuggle their dogs into Australia, violating strict biosecurity regulations.
