Why Barnaby barking at his dog was a political masterstroke

July 23, 2026 — 3:30pm

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By now there probably isn’t a person left in Australia who hasn’t had occasion to contemplate the primal roar unleashed by Barnaby Joyce on his gormless staffy-cross, Stella, on camera this week.

Equal parts unbridled rage and frenzied pathos, his spray erupted like a riotous display of vocal pyrotechnics. If I were a more entrepreneurial soul, I would take the recording, send it offshore and have it made into a version of one of those demented plastic novelty Yes!/No! buttons that erupts every time you smash it with your hand.

I’m serious about this. I’ve had a solid 48 hours to think about it and there’s definitely a market for Joyce’s voice randomly hollering “Siddown!” at a useless bunch of miscreants. To, wit: the kids who won’t come in for dinner? “Siddown!” The co-workers standing around gas-bagging instead of starting the meeting on time? “Siddown!” The wedding guests milling about and eyeing the champagne before the ceremony? “Siddown, siddown, SIDDOWN!”

It’s been instructive to note that although the footage made headlines overseas, the local response to Joyce’s outburst has been relatively low-key. Victorian Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell took quickly to Melbourne radio to imply that Joyce was a closet dog-hater before........

© The Sydney Morning Herald