Barnaby Joyce interrupted a live interview on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Monday night, August 10, when he yelled “Sit down!” at his dog Stella, who was barking outside his home during the broadcast [1, 2].
Joyce, a former deputy prime minister and current One Nation MP, was being questioned about Pauline Hanson's recent meeting with far-right UK activist Tommy Robinson and her recent European trip, a politically sensitive subject [1, 2]. The interview was conducted by journalist Sarah Ferguson.
As Stella’s barking became disruptive, Joyce raised his voice at the dog while Ferguson asked him to ignore it and answer the questions. Ferguson said, “Don’t worry about the dog, just answer the question” [1]. Joyce replied sharply, “Don’t be rude, Sarah, or this interview will be over,” signaling frustration with the line of questioning and the interruption [2].
Joyce joined One Nation in December 2025 after previously serving as a National Party leader. The political context of the interview and Joyce’s defensive reaction attracted attention and criticism once the clip went viral [2].
Following the widespread reaction, Joyce apologized for losing his temper during the live interview, acknowledging the disruption his dog caused and expressing regret at the tone he used [3, 2].
The incident took place in Joyce’s home where Stella the dog had been barking outside, leading to the outburst mid-interview [2]. The interview focused heavily on Hanson’s controversial positions and recent alliances abroad, placing Joyce on the spot as a One Nation MP.
The ABC interview clip circulated rapidly online from Tuesday, sparking debate about political theatre and live broadcast challenges with external interruptions.
No further interviews or appearances by Joyce have been scheduled to address the topic at this time.
