Barnaby Joyce goes after ‘nemesis’ Johnny Depp

It’s a clear case of he said, he said and it seems both Barnaby Joyce and Johnny Depp have gone to the dogs — two terriers who go by the names of Pistol and Boo to be precise. 

In what can only be compared to a storm in a teacup (a teacup Yorkshire terrier that is), Depp previously compared Joyce’s head to that of a “tomato” and now the Deputy PM has finally had his turn to strike back.

In damning new claims, Joyce has accused the Hollywood actor of lying to Australia when Depp “accidentally” smuggled his two pooches into the country without filing the necessary paperwork. 

“If the allegations that have been made against him are correct, and I’m not saying if they are or aren’t, then that would be perjury,” the deputy prime minster told the Herald Sun.

Depp’s former business managers said in leaked court documents that the actor was “fully aware that he was illegally bringing his dogs into Australia”.

The documents obtained by People magazine revealed Depp allegedly lied to authorities when he claimed to have “accidentally” smuggled the now infamous pups into the country in May 2015 during the filming of the latest instalment to the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series.  

Confronted by Australian authorities at the time regarding his teacup Yorkshire terriers, Pistol and Boo, Depp denied any fault and told the public that he “believed his staff had obtained the necessary paperwork.”

Depp’s former business managers The Management Group (TMG) — who he claims defrauded him out of millions of his earnings, filed legal documents which said Depp “falsely claimed” to authorities and the press that the incident was a misunderstanding.

When Depp was confronted by Aussie authorities, TMG claimed the actor “pressured one of his long-term employees to take the fall”.

Depp’s ex-wife and actor Amber Heard managed to skirt jail time when she pleaded guilty to falsifying border protection documents when she illegally imported the teacup Yorkies into Australia.

She was handed a one-month good behaviour bond and fined $1,000.

The couple also produced a very awkward and seemingly insincere apology video that was played in court, and later went viral.

“When you disrespect Australian law,” Depp deadpans in the video, “they will tell you firmly.”

The dog smuggling “incident” made headlines around the world when Joyce famously said the dogs had better “bugger off” back to the US or he’d arrange to put them down. 

 The presence of the illegal four-legged immigrants was only discovered when their visit to a Gold Coast dog grooming salon went public. 

Pistol and Boo were quickly taken out of the country before a 72-hour deadline lapsed when the canines would have to be seized.

Under the strict Quarantine Act which was designed to keep disease at bay, dogs entering from the US must be declared and have to spend 10 days in quarantine — the penalty for disobeying range from fines to a maximum of 10 years in prison. 

Depp has never been charged over the incident. 

Does Johnny Depp deserve to be punished?