Former foreign minister Julie Bishop has flagged backing a motion against her right-wing Liberal enemy Peter Dutton and questioned whether the behaviour of politicians would be allowed in a workplace.

Australia’s highest-profile backbencher three weeks ago lost a Liberal leadership ballot to become prime minister and has since embarked on a quest to highlight her party’s lack of female representation.

The former Liberal deputy leader, who herself engaged in robust parliamentary antics during her 15 years on the front bench, castigated the adversarial nature of Question Time in the House of Representatives. 

Former foreign minister Julie Bishop flagged the possibility of supporting a motion in Parliament to refer Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton's eligibility to the High Court 

Former foreign minister Julie Bishop flagged the possibility of supporting a motion in Parliament to refer Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s eligibility to the High Court 

‘You all attend Question Time. Would that be tolerated in any workplace?,’ she asked reporters during an impromptu press conference in a Parliament House corridor.

‘And despite the best efforts of the Speaker and the rules, the standing orders, we still see the name calling and the shouting.

‘Tell me another workplace where you could do that.

The 62-year-old former law firm partner was a no-show at last night’s Mid Winter Ball in Canberra.

She did, however, flag voting in favour of a parliamentary motion to refer Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to the High Court, after former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull last night tweeted about the need for this to happen.

Ms Bishop told reporters she would make a decision ‘at that time’, with constitutional questions remaining about Mr Dutton’s financial stake in two Brisbane childcare centres that received taxpayer subsidies.

‘We all have personal responsibility to ensure we are eligible to sit in the Parliament,’ she said.

‘We’ve seen in recent times steps taken by members of Parliament to clarify their status. But it’s a matter for each politician to make that determination.’ 

The Liberal Party's former deputy leader asked reporters if the behaviour of politicians during Question Time would be tolerated in any other workplace

The Liberal Party's former deputy leader asked reporters if the behaviour of politicians during Question Time would be tolerated in any other workplace

The Liberal Party’s former deputy leader asked reporters if the behaviour of politicians during Question Time would be tolerated in any other workplace

Liberal MP Julia Banks (left) who sits next to Julie Bishop on the back bench, told Parliament there was a 'culture of bullying' in the Liberal Party

Liberal MP Julia Banks (left) who sits next to Julie Bishop on the back bench, told Parliament there was a 'culture of bullying' in the Liberal Party

Liberal MP Julia Banks (left) who sits next to Julie Bishop on the back bench, told Parliament there was a ‘culture of bullying’ in the Liberal Party

Liberal MP Julia Banks, who sits next to Ms Bishop on the back bench, last night slammed her party for the way it treated women, after previously accusing Mr Dutton’s right-faction supporters of intimidating behaviour during a leadership ballot.

‘In my political journey, a culture of appalling behaviour has been widespread, pervasive and undermining, like white ants,’ she told the chamber shortly before the start of the Midwinter Ball in the Great Hall downstairs.

The first-term backbencher, who won the marginal inner-Melbourne seat of Chisholm off Labor in 2016, also explained why she had chosen not to be a candidate at next year’s federal election. 

‘Sometimes the most effective and palatable action is to walk away,’ she said.

‘That’s not the same as saying you are walking past the behaviour. 

‘Walking away is very powerful and there are many men, but particularly many women, in the workplace who’ve done this. 

The first-term backbencher, who won the marginal seat of Chisholm off Labor in 2016, also explained why she had chosen not to be a candidate at next year's federal election

The first-term backbencher, who won the marginal seat of Chisholm off Labor in 2016, also explained why she had chosen not to be a candidate at next year's federal election

The first-term backbencher, who won the marginal seat of Chisholm off Labor in 2016, also explained why she had chosen not to be a candidate at next year’s federal election

‘Similarly, there are thousands who’d love to but can’t afford to for a raft of reasons, including fear of reprisals or possible financial and career detriment.’

The former lawyer said action needed to be taken against ‘appalling behaviour’ in business and politics. 

‘Appalling behaviour is an umbrella descriptor for bullying, intimidation, harassment – sexual or otherwise – or a lack of integrity,’ she said.  

‘These are usually the same reasons that prevent women from calling out or from filing official reports of the behaviour. 

‘To all those women, this speech is for you.’

The Liberal Party’s female representation in federal Parliament stands at 22 per cent, compared with Labor’s 45 per cent, with a gender quota.

Ms Bishop garnered just 11 votes during a Liberal leadership ballot on August 24 despite being the party’s deputy leader since December 2007 to three leaders and four changes of leadership. 

Mr Dutton was then narrowly defeated in the second round of voting as the right’s candidate to become PM, losing to Scott Morrison 40 votes to 45. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk