NEVER DULL, OUR BARNABY

PISTOL and Boo are the gifts that keep on giving.

More than two years have passed since the illegal presence of the tiny yorkshire yappers was revealed, creating such a storm in a terrier teacup that Hollywood stars Johnny Depp and Amber Heard had to make a public apology for failing to declare the dogs when entering Australia.

And still the potshots continue between Depp and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. The parties involved might get a little hot under the collar at all the bad memories, indeed their faces might even turn a bright tomato red, but for the rest of the world it’s all been good fun.

No one was hurt in the end. The dogs were not put down, despite threats from Mr Joyce who was agriculture minister at the time. There was no outbreak of any nasty dog-borne diseases while Depp was filming the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie here. Aussie Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush became a bit precious about all the hoo-ha but the Americans still love us. Why, Heard — now no longer with Depp — has even returned to the Gold Coast to make another movie.

Allegations Depp knew all along that the tiny pets did not have the green light when they were brought into the country are, until proven or debunked, just that — allegations. It’s really just water under the bridge. But never one to miss a chance to ramp up the aggro, Mr Joyce took time out from matters of state in far-off London to declare victory in this round, saying his assessment of Depp was right so he’s one up on all the American late-night show critics who saw him as an easy target.

Early last year, when Mr Joyce took over as Deputy Prime Minister, the Bulletin assessed him as anything but dull.

We’re pleased he keeps obliging.