(Recast) Aussie minister laughs of insults on Johnny Depp's "Hannibal Lecter"

Australian agriculture minster Barnaby Joyce has laughed of insults he was "inbred with a tomato" from Hollywood star Johnny Depp, telling reporters on Wednesday that he's happy he's haunting the star following the "Depp's Dogs" scandal last year.

Speaking on a late night U.S. talk show overnight, Depp said he was worried Joyce who threatened to euthanize his dogs which were illegally smuggled into the country unless they were removed from Australia would "explode".

"(Joyce) looks somehow inbred with a tomato," Depp said when asked about the "Depp's Dogs" saga. He and wife Amber Heard were forced to publicly apologise for breaking Australia's strict biosecurity laws in early April.

"It's not a criticism. I was a little worried. He just might explode".

Joyce laughed off Depp's comments, instead thanking the star for the free publicity for Australia's strict laws.

"I think I'm turning into Johnny Depp's Hannibal Lecter aren't I?" Joyce laughingly asked reporters in rural New South Wales state on Tuesday.

"I'm inside his head, I'm pulling little strings and pulling little levers. Long after I've forgotten about Mr Depp, he's remembering me."

The battle between Depp and Joyce began in April 2015 when the star's pet dogs Pistol and Boo were discovered to have been illegally stuck into Australia by wife Heard while the start was filming the latest instalment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series.

One year on however it seems that Joyce continues to have the last laugh. Endit