Barnaby Joyce scolds his dog. (Screenshot from video)
A live TV interview in Australia took an unexpected turn on Monday evening when Barnaby Joyce, the former deputy prime minister, sharply tried to call his dog to order and then also almost clashed with the journalist. The incident quickly made headlines and sparked a debate about his actions.
Joyce was doing an interview with the national broadcaster ABC on Monday evening when his dog interrupted the conversation.
Sarah Ferguson, the interviewer, was asking Joyce about One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s recent meeting with Tommy Robinson, the controversial British far-right figure, when Joyce abruptly interrupted the conversation.
“Sit!” Joyce shouted.
He then immediately turned to Ferguson and apologized. “Excuse me, it’s the dog,” he said.
Barnaby Joyce pausing mid-interview on ABC 7.30 to bellow SIT DOWN at his dog (off camera) is going to be hard to beat for TV blooper of the year pic.twitter.com/gJYEF6P3g2
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) July 20, 2026
However, the dog disrupted the interview again soon after.
Joyce apologized again and said the dog had just started making noise.
Ferguson said: “Don’t worry about the dog. Just answer the question.”
However, Joyce retorted: “Don’t be rude. Or we’ll end this interview now, Sarah.”
Criticism flows in
The incident was widely shared on social media and drew criticism from various quarters.
Georgie Purcell, a member of parliament from the Animal Justice Party in the state of Victoria, wrote on social media “if you think this is a normal way to talk to your dog, then sit down yourself”.
Joyce discussed it later in conversation with The Sydney Morning Herald rejected the criticism, saying the response reflected the difference between urban and rural Australians.
“People in the regions laugh about it,” he said.
“People in the city think it’s a war crime.”
Not the first time
This is not the first time that Joyce has made headlines for his handling of dogs.
He caused a worldwide stir in 2015 when he threatened that actor Johnny Depp’s dogs would be put down if they did not comply with Australia’s strict quarantine rules.
Controversial interview topic
The TV interview on Monday evening was about Hanson’s recent participation in a podcast with Robinson, a former football hooligan who later became a well-known anti-Islam activist.
Robinson’s profile has grown significantly in recent years and Hanson’s decision to perform with him has drawn sharp criticism.
Hanson caused further controversy when she said the abolition of Australia’s so-called “White Australia” policy in the 1970s, which restricted immigration to white people, was partly responsible for many of the country’s current problems.
This statement caused great indignation.
Hanson later denied that she advocated for the reinstatement of the policy.
One Nation’s support is growing
One Nation, which for decades was considered a fringe group in Australian politics and is led by Hanson, is meanwhile enjoying increasing support. According to opinion polls, the party has become Australia’s most popular political party in recent months.