Sat, July 25th, 2026: Alex Ward; Stella Joyce, Barnaby Joyce’s Dog; Political commentary from Australia’s most famous canine
Our next guest has become something of a political celebrity in her own right. She’s appeared on television, stolen scenes from interviews and probably has stronger name recognition than some backbench MPs. Stella,
Barnaby Joyce unwittingly made headlines this week when during a live interview with the 7:30 Report, he yelled at his dog Stella to “Sit Down” while being asked if he was comfortable with some of Pauline Hanson’s latest decisions – including her recent interview with controversial right-wing figure Tommy Robinson, comments referencing the White Australia policy and the funding of her trip to a fashion show in Sicily.
The interruption has gone viral, with many discussing the way in which one ought to address a dog and how it ought to be treated.
Barnaby Joyce apologised for yelling: “After getting to a point where I couldn’t really think straight, I had to tell her, in farm language, to be quieter…” “People in the regions laugh about it. People in the inner city think it’s a war crime,” he said. He was on Today on Nine the next morning lovingly patting the dog.
Stella is a two-year-old Border Collie-cross-Staffordshire Terrier.
Pauline Hanson has laughed off the exchange, while One Nation has opened pre-ordering for dog leads emblazoned with “Sit Down” on its website as a piece of merchandise.
Barnaby Joyce’s wife, Vikki Campion, has written in her Substack that she will be banning the 7:30 Report from conducting interviews at their farm in the wake of the incident. “If you don’t do the interview you are accused of ‘hiding’ from transparency and if you do the interview, you are smashed for yelling at a dog… to sit down.”
Meanwhile, Sydney Morning Herald columnist Michelle Cazzulino writes that Barnaby Joyce has delivered a political “masterstroke” in catering to his rural base and making critics seem like disconnected inner-city types.
Meanwhile, Pauline Hanson drew criticism again this week for saying that Domestic Violence is “wrong, but it’s also a two-way street.” “I think today everyone’s sitting on a time bomb because the pressures on cost of living and people having to be able to pay the bills, tension that’s going on or if you lose your job or the kids, what’s happening with the children these days. Everyone is under so much pressure.”
Alex Ward:
Acting in the role of Stella is comedian Alex Ward, a queer comedian from Melbourne who has appeared on Have You Been Paying Attention?, The Project, Tonightly and many other shows. Alex is originally from Queensland and will be touring in August, as well as doing a show at Comedy Republic on July 31. Alex’s wife is also expecting a baby (Alex has mentioned this on HYBPA). Alex is a very dry comedian and a great improviser.
The post Sat, July 25th, 2026: Alex Ward; Stella Joyce, Barnaby Joyce’s Dog; Political commentary from Australia’s most famous canine appeared first on Saturday Magazine.