Johnny Depp mocks Australia's Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce ahead of Amber Heard's Gold Coast court hearing on Monday

Actor Johnny Depp attends a red carpet event to promote his new movie "Transcendence", on his first visit to China in Beijing March 31, 2014. Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Johnny Depp took a swipe at Australia’s Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce over the weekend during a Q & A session for “Black Mass” at the Venice Film Festival. The actor for the first time spoke about the case filed against his wife, Amber Heard, for the illegal importation of their two dogs, Boo Boo and Pistol, into Australia. Depp’s statements were made ahead of Heard’s expected Gold Coast court appearance on Monday.

The video below shared by the Associated Press shows Depp being asked if he brought his dogs along “to give them a gondola ride in Paris.” In a serious tone and face, the actor replied, “No, I killed my dogs and ate them under direct orders from some kind of, I dunno, sweaty, big-gutted man from Australia.” His response made the crowd laugh although according to News.com.au, Depp was actually taking a direct swipe at Minister Joyce.

The 52-year old’s statements came ahead of his wife’s hearing on Monday. Heard was expected to face the Gold Coast court over the alleged illegal importation of their dogs to Australia back when Depp was filming the latest instalment of “The Pirates of the Caribbean” in the country earlier this year.

However, it’s been reported that Amber will not be attending the hearing at the Southport Magistrates Court in Queensland. Instead, her lawyers have asked for an adjournment of the case until a later date. If the adjournment is granted and the matter finally heard, the actress could face two charges of illegal importation and according to News.com.au, one count of producing a false document- the incoming passenger card. Heard could reportedly also face jail time up to 10 years and will be fined AU$100,000 if found guilty.

The couple made headlines in May after they had allegedly smuggled their two dogs into Australia without proper documentation. The dogs, Boo Boo and Pistol, were not declared in the in-flight manifesto, according to Mirror UK.

At that time Minister Joyce had threatened the life of the two dogs with euthanasia if they don’t “bugger off home” within the given timeframe that they are allowed to be in the Gold Coast. Joyce gave the dogs a 48-hour countdown for Depp and Heard to take their pups off to safety. Boo Boo and Pistol were reportedly brought back to the U.S. via private jet in the evening. It's believed the couple will avoid any trips to Australia from now.

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