Former Deputy Prime Minister Julie Bishop has attacked the ‘vicious behaviour’ and insult-throwing of Australian politicians on Question Time – while adding she would welcome a more even gender split in Canberra.
In an explosive interview on 60 Minutes on Sunday night, Ms Bishop came out swinging – accusing Australian politics of being the laughing stock of the world.
Ms Bishop also said she would welcome a 50/50 gender split in Canberra when asked about the amount of ‘blue suits’ in parliament.
The 62-year-old said she thought Australia’s recent labelling as the Italy of the south pacific and the coup capital of the world were unkind, but slammed Question Time for giving politicians a bad name.
She said: ‘I think Question Time does more damage to the reputation of the political class than any other issue.
‘There’s far too much throwing of insults and vicious behaviour, name-calling and the like.’
When asked if she thought an even gender balance within Parliament would make a difference in politics, Ms Bishop said she believed it would.
She added the nature of debate in the cabinet changed significantly after five other women joined her.
In an explosive interview on 60 Minutes on Sunday night, Ms Bishop came out swinging – accusing Australian politics of being the laughing stock of the world and Question Time of ‘damaging’ politicians’ reputation
The former foreign minister also repeated her calls for a target to recruit more women into the Liberal party.
She said she believed concrete gender targets in parliament were ‘an appropriate mechanism’, saying she had seen it work elsewhere.
In the first major interview since the leadership spill, the former frontbencher says she still gets calls asking why she is no longer the foreign minister and what happened to the prime minister.
Speaking to 60 Minutes, MP Rebekah Sharkie (pictured) – the member for the Mayo division in South Australia – said she struggled to get her voice heard amid the raucous din of other politicians
Speaking to 60 Minutes, MP Rebekah Sharkie – the member for the Mayo division in South Australia – also said she struggled to get her voice heard amid the raucous din of other politicians.
She said: ‘I’ve heard it described as theatre – the only ones who are enjoying it though are the ones on the stage.’
Ms Bishop threw her name in the ring to be part in a three-way battle for the leadership role after Malcolm Turnbull stepped down last month.
She was eliminated on the first ballot with 11 votes out of 85.
The battle came down between Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton with Morrison having the numbers to become Australia’s 30th prime minister.
Josh Frydenberg then had the numbers to become Australia’s new deputy leader.
Once widely tipped to become Australia’s second female prime minister, Ms Bishop announced her resignation from the ministry two days later the leadership spill.
‘We seem to have lowered the bar for the reasons that one can remove a Prime Minister from office.’
Ms Bishop also said she would welcome a 50/50 gender split in Canberra when asked about the amount of ‘blue suits’ in parliament (pictured)
Ms Bishop (pictured with new PM Scott Morrison) threw her name in the ring to be part in a three-way battle for the leadership role after Malcolm Turnbull stepped down last month
She (pictured with Malcolm Turnbull) was eliminated on the first ballot with 11 votes out of 85 – and the battle came down between Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton with Morrison eventually having the numbers to become Australia’s 30th Prime Minister
When asked if the consequences have been great, she replied: ‘Yes, they have.’
When asked what she thought of the ‘suits’ in the Liberal Party, Ms Bishop replied: ‘Well, you can go through it person by person.’
The interview comes after she took aim at the behaviour of parliamentary colleagues earlier this month, saying she has witnessed ‘appalling’ behaviour she never would have accepted while running a major law firm 20 years ago.
Julie Bishop (left) didn’t hold back on what she really thinks of some of her Liberal party colleagues including Peter Dutton (right)