Story highlights Barnaby Joyce wants to eradicate "disgusting" carp

The Australian government plan on wiping out carp by using a form of the herpes virus

(CNN) Not content with telling Jonny Depp's dogs to "bugger off," Australia's new Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has moved onto his next target ... carp.

Joyce announced during a robust speech to a rowdy -- but entertained -- parliament that the only way to get rid of these "disgusting, bottom-dwelling, mud-sucking creatures" was to unleash a form of the herpes virus on them.

He then flew into an impassioned, if slightly bizarre, tirade that the internet immediately jumped on with glee.

please enjoy this Vine of our esteemed Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce literally just yelling "CARP" during #QT today https://t.co/yg0UtrvmCR — Josh Butler (@JoshButler) May 2, 2016

It appeared that for the first -- and probably only -- time, carp became the most popular fish in Australia.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Australia's Turnbull government, embracing a carp.#auspol pic.twitter.com/Dom1sc7UVZ — Van Badham (@vanbadham) May 2, 2016

Carp diem