Hollywood acting couple Johnny Depp and Amber Heard may have escaped conviction over illegally bringing their dogs into Australia, but they've been forced to film a PSA about the country's biosecurity.
Heard pleaded guilty to a charge of providing a false immigration document to immigration officials and was given a one-month good behaviour bond of $1000 but received no conviction.
The couple caused controversy last year after their Yorkshire terriers, Pistol and Boo, entered the country without being declared. Depp was in Australia filming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, now the Deputy Prime Minister, waged a campaign against the couple, threatening that if they weren't sent home to California they could be euthanised.
They've publicly apologised in a 42-second video, with Heard saying she was "truly sorry" for not declaring the dogs.
"Australia is free of many pests and diseases that are commonplace around the world. That is why Australia has to have such strong biosecurity laws."
Depp had a warning for those who didn't make the right declarations.
"When you disrespect Australian law, they will tell you firm. Declare everything when you enter Australia."
The script for the video was approved by prosecutors, and which Heard's lawyer said would achieve some "public good", The Guardian reports.
The message has been compared by some on social media to a hostage video.
Mr Joyce posted the video to his Facebook page, saying the consequences of a disease outbreak could be "terrifying".
Newshub.
