Family pictures with celebrity chefs, starstruck photos with President Trump and even a front-row seat at the UN General Assembly.
Life with Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop has taken wealthy property developer David Panton a long way from his morning Manly Beach bootcamps.
The couple have been together since 2014 and are understood to be deeply committed.
But revelations Ms Bishop claimed $32,000 in taxpayer-funded domestic ‘family’ travel for Mr Panton have raised questions about arrangements for politicians and their partners.
Since 2015, West Australian MP Ms Bishop has claimed a family reunification travel allowance for her Sydney-based long-term partner Mr Panton.
Meantime, he does not have to disclose his financial interests to Parliament – as wives and husbands of parliamentarians do.
That is reportedly because he is not her ‘spouse’ (they are not married) or ‘de facto’ (they do not live together).
Happy New Year! Long-term partners Julie Bishop and property developer David Panton on January 1
Deeply committed: The couple smile for some pictures during New Year’s celebrations
Chilling with celebrities: Ms Bishop and Mr Panton, on right, with TV anchor Karl Stefanovic and his partner Jasmine Yarbrough at the Melbourne Cup on November 4, 2017
Hanging the leader of the free world: Ms Bishop and Mr Panton with Donald and Melania Trump last year
On the floor of the UN General Assembly: Mr Panton sparked Labor questions when he appeared with Ms Bishop in New York on September 25, 2015
‘David Panton is the Minister’s nominated person for the purpose of domestic travel,’ Ms Bishop’s spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.
The spokeswoman said Ms Bishop is compliant with the Register of Interests. And there is no suggestion of wrongdoing.
The deputy Liberal leader claimed only $1,074.62 in family travel allowance between October and December 2017.
The allowance is used for Mr Panton join or accompany Ms Bishop in Australia, as government guidelines state.
But outrage frothed on social media with users comparing’the rules for politicians to welfare agency Centrelink’s enforcement of strict rules on what makes a couple.
‘Imagine, just for one second if Centrelink was looking for proof of your relationship and saw this montage (of pictures of them together),’ an angry Twitter user said.
Speaking of Mr Panton being ‘family’ but not her partner, political commentator Peter Van Onselen tweeted: ‘Surely it’s both or none!’
Ms Bishop and Mr Panton are clearly deeply committed to each other – going public with their relationship in late 2014.
Julie, David and two of his children pose for a picture with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal
Stepping out: Ms Bishop with Mr Panton at the annual Canberra mid-winter ball in 2016
Hollywood touch: Ms Bishop, Mr Panton and Nicole Kidman at the G’Day USA Black Tie gala a year ago
Watching the AFL: The couple are seen in West Coast Eagles regalia – with US Vice President Joe Biden in foreground
Former pharmacist Mr Panton has traveled the world with Ms Bishop in the years since and is her annual date to the Mid-Winter Ball at Parliament House, Canberra.
In 2015, he joined Ms Bishop on the floor of the UN General Assembly in New York – sparking questions from Labor about just why he was there.
They are often seen at polo and racing events and spent the last New Year’s Eve together under fireworks, posing together with happy selfies.
And they spent the last New Year’s Eve together under Australian fireworks, posing for a happy series of selfies.
Another Mid Winter ball appearance: Ms Bishop and Mr Panton at Parliament House
Politicians have had a muted reaction to the reports about Ms Bishop’s partner.
‘My understanding from what it looks is that the rules may not have been broken,’ Labor MP Tony Burke told Sky News on Thursday.
‘Julie Bishop will have to explain it,’ he said.
‘Obviously in these sorts of situations often whether or not you’ve acted within the rules the public have their own view of what is reasonable and what is not’.
Ms Bishop’s Liberal colleague Sussan Ley suggested sexism could be responsible for the scrutiny on Ms Bishop’s relationship.
‘Julie is completely within the rules and I think there’s a lot of unnecessary speculation about her private life,’ Ms Ley told the network.
‘Sometimes I wonder if Julie was a man and her partner was a woman (if) there would be quite as much speculation about her private life.’
WHY JULIE BISHOP DOES NOT HAVE TO DISCLOSE DAVID PANTON’S FINANCIAL INTERESTS
Julie Bishop and David Panton
Politicians are entitled to nominate one person as the recipient of the ‘Family Reunion Travel in Australia’ allowance.
It is typically given to the spouses of MPs and senators.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop nominated her partner David Panton as the person in her life who receives the domestic travel entitlement.
Finance Department guidelines state the allowance can only be used for the nominated persons to accompany or join parliamentarians.
‘Budget for travel is limited to the combined value of nine business class return trips per year from their principal place of residence to Canberra for a spouse or nominee,’ the guidelines state.
The allowance can be used for any class of travel, including business or economy.
Separately, all parliamentarians are required to provide a statement of their registrable interests within 28 days of being elected.
The register’s purpose is to place on the public record ‘interests which may conflict, or may be seen to conflict, with their public duty’.
The register includes information about the interests of parliamentarians’ spouses or dependents.
Ms Bishop’s office told Fairfax Media she is not obliged to disclose Mr Panton’s financial interests. That’s because he is not her ‘spouse’ or ‘de facto’ (live in) partner, the spokesperson was quoted saying.
A spokeswoman said Ms Bishop’s office had received advice from Parliament about the matter and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing.