Julie Bishop’s failed attempt to seize the Liberal leadership and her subsequent move to the backbench has fuelled speculation she is set for a plum new role
Julie Bishop’s failed attempt to seize the Liberal leadership and her subsequent move to the backbench has fuelled speculation she is set for a plum new role – and it’s got the republican movement fuming.
Last Friday, after a turbulent week in the Liberal Party that ended Malcolm Turnbull’s prime ministership, the then-Foreign Affairs Minister put her hand up for the top job.
But she fell well short, winning only 11 votes – including her own – in the partyroom vote of 85 MPs, despite the polls consistently showing she is the public’s preferred Liberal leader.
By Sunday, it emerged Ms Bishop never had a hope, with moderates urging each other to put their votes behind Scott Morrison in a bid to stop Peter Dutton becoming prime minister.
Hours later, Ms Bishop announced she would quit the cabinet and move to the backbench, but left open the question about how long she would stay in parliament.
There has been speculation she could succeed Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove when his five-year term finishes in March next year.
But that potential move has angered the Australian Republic Movement (ARM), which is campaigning for the next governor-general to be chosen by the public.
There has been speculation Ms Bishop could succeed Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove (pictured right after swearing in Scott Morrison) when his five-year term finishes next March
In June, ARM National Chair Peter FitzSimons (pictured with wife Lisa Wilkinson) wrote to then-Prime Minister Turnbull asking he give Australians a say over the next Governor-General
‘The Prime Minister should immediately rule out a ”captain’s call” on the next Governor- General,’ ARM Director Michael Cooney said in a statement on Monday.
‘Media reports speculating that former Foreign Minister Bishop might be considered for the role and represent the Queen in Canberra reinforce the worst perception that Australia is in decline from a parliamentary democracy to a spoils system.’
In June, ARM National Chair Peter FitzSimons wrote to then-Prime Minister Turnbull asking he give Australians a say over the next Governor-General through a vote of the Parliament or of the people.
‘We suggest that you take the opportunity to involve the Australian community in this decision and to trial a method of selection for a future Australian head of state,’ Mr FitzSimons wrote.
‘You could open the process up to wide nominations before moving to a resolution of the House and Senate (moved by you and the Opposition Leader) to advise the Queen to appoint a Governor-General.’
Bill Shorten wants the winner of the next election to nominate a new governor-general in the wake of speculation about Julie Bishop’s future.
Following Ms Bishop stepping down as foreign minister on Sunday, reports suggest she could succeed Sir Peter Cosgrove when his commission ends in March.
‘We suggest that you take the opportunity to involve the Australian community in this decision and to trial a method of selection for a future Australian head of state,’ Mr FitzSimons wrote
But the Labor leader has taken the first step to shut down any potential aspirations for Ms Bishop and the Liberal Party, proposing a six-month extension to Sir Peter’s term.
Mr Shorten has penned a letter to new Prime Minister Scott Morrison asking him to extend Sir Peter’s commission until September 2019, taking it beyond the likely May 2019 federal election date.
He believes the move would allow the ‘incoming prime minister’ to nominate ‘an appropriate successor’ after the election.
Sir Peter has served as governor-general since March 2014, following on from Dame Quentin Bryce’s near six-year stint.
Australian Republic Movement director Michael Cooney said the next governor-general should be at least in part chosen by the public.
General Sir Peter Cosgrove, the Governor-General of Australia, meets Queen Elizabeth II. His five-year commission ends in March next year
‘Things need to change in Parliament House and it starts with the attitudes and behaviours of the most senior people,’ Mr Cooney said.
‘Choosing the governor-general should never again be a personal pick of the prime minister.’
Danielle Blain, a Bishop ally and former West Australian Liberal state president, said it was too soon to know what her next move would be.
‘I’m still recovering from the extraordinary treachery shown by the WA members,’ Ms Blain told The Australian.
Ms Bishop has also been linked to a possible job as Australia’s ambassador to the United Nations, though she has denied interest in the position.
A Newspoll released on Monday showed she was the most popular of the Liberal leadership contenders, with 29 per cent the vote.
Ms Bishop has also been linked to a possible job as Australia’s ambassador to the United Nations
Newly elected leader of the Liberal Party Scott Morrison is pictured alongside deputy leader Josh Frydenberg
Mr Morrison polled four points behind Ms Bishop, while Mr Turnbull ran third on 14 per cent, Tony Abbott with 11 per cent and Peter Dutton polled just 6 per cent.
Despite her popularity, Ms Bishop, who was deputy Liberal leader for more than a decade, only received the vote of just 10 other MPs in last Friday’s leadership ballot.
On Monday, she slammed the Liberal Party’s dirty backroom tactics which pushed her out of the leadership race, questioning why her Western Australian colleagues didn’t back her to take the top job.
Ms Bishop revealed the leadership spill had been ‘personally devastating’ for several key players – and said she was aware of a leaked WhatsApp thread which urged her supporters to vote for Mr Morrison in the ballot.
Ms Bishop, who was deputy Liberal leader for more than a decade, received just 11 votes in last Friday’s leadership ballot
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop tendered her resignation from the cabinet on Sunday (pictured)
The bombshell messages, released by ABC’s Insiders program, showed key party members – calling themselves ‘Friends of Stability’ – were told to vote with their heads, not their hearts.
‘[Mathias] Cormann rumoured to be putting some WA votes behind Julie Bishop in round one,’ Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher is said to have written to the group.
‘Be aware that this is a ruse trying to get her ahead of Morrison so he drops out and his votes go to [Peter] Dutton. Despite our hearts tugging us to Julie we need to vote with our heads for Scott in round one.’
The messages accused Senator Cormann off trying to set up a two-way contest between Ms Bishop and Mr Dutton, which the Home Affairs Minister would likely win.
Mathias Cormann is accused of attempting to set up a two-way contest between Ms Bishop and Mr Dutton
Leaked WhatsApp messages (pictured) appeared to expose the betrayal of Ms Bishop during her run for the top job
‘You would have to ask the individuals involved but it appeared to be a tactic to promote Peter Dutton into the prime ministership, whatever the cost,’ Ms Bishop told The West Australian on Monday.
One Western Australian MP said they felt tricked into voting against Ms Bishop to keep Mr Dutton out of the top job.
Ms Bishop suggested her party used dirty backroom tactics to push her out of the bitter race for the Liberal leadership
‘We were forced to vote for Scott in round one. There was a lot of people on that [WhatsApp] list who would have voted for Julie,’ they told the paper.
Senator Cormann, who backed Peter Dutton to become prime minister, said rumours that he tried to set up the Dutton-Bishop showdown were untrue.
‘I can completely and categorically rule out any such tricks, as you call it,’ he told ABC News on Monday.
‘At all points in time, I’ve tried to make judgments based on what I believe to be the right way forward, and I’ve explained myself openly and transparently in private and in public.’
He said on Sunday the rumoured tactics were ‘100 per cent incorrect’.
Mr Morrison said he had wanted Ms Bishop to stay on as foreign minister but accepted her decision to step aside
The WhatsApp messages accused Senator Cormann off trying to set up a two-way contest between Ms Bishop (pictured) and Mr Dutton
Members of the WhatsApp thread showed concern for Ms Bishop, with one suggesting: ‘Someone should tell Julie’.
‘I have… very respectfully,’ messages purportedly sent by Christopher Pyne read.
Ms Bishop was knocked out of the first round of voting. No one from Western Australia voted for her.
Insiders host Barrie Cassidy said Ms Bishop was ‘entitled to be both embarrassed and angry’.
‘In the end she was a victim of tactics and I’m sure that helps to explain why she is less than impressed,’ he said.
Mr Morrison said he had wanted Ms Bishop to stay on as foreign minister but accepted her decision to step aside.
Pictured is a list of the ministers in the group ‘Friends for Stability’, which were purported to be told to vote against Ms Bishop
Former Defence Minister Marise Payne, who worked closely with Ms Bishop, moves into the role.
Ms Bishop will now sit on the back bench as the member for the Perth seat of Curtin, but her political future is in doubt.
‘I have been pre-selected by the Liberal Party for the seat of Curtin and I have made no decision regarding the next election,’ she said.
Ms Bishop was knocked out of the first round of voting after receiving only 11 votes
Since her resignation, supporters of the former deputy have paid tribute to her career.
Mr Turnbull on Sunday described her as Australia’s finest foreign minister and thanked her for her loyalty and friendship.
‘She has been and remains an inspiring role model for women here and around the world,’ he tweeted.
Western Australian Labor Premier Mark McGowan said it was disappointing Ms Bishop’s WA colleagues did not back her in the leadership tilt.
‘They were disloyal to Western Australia’s interests and the fact that people like Christian Porter were prepared to support (Peter) Dutton indicates he wasn’t acting in West Australia’s interests,’ Mr McGowan said.
‘They should have supported a Western Australian candidate, it’s not as though she didn’t have enough experience.’
Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong described her role as Australia’s minister of Foreign Affairs as ‘trailblazing’.
Ms Bishop will now sit on the back bench as the member for the Perth seat of Curtin, but her political future is in doubt
One Western Australian MP said they felt tricked into voting against Ms Bishop in an apparent bid to keep Mr Dutton out of the top job. Ms Bishop is seen competing in the Perth City2Surf
‘For five years she has dedicated her life to our nation with a tireless work ethic and exhausting travel schedule.
‘Ms Bishop’s commitment to standing up for Australia both here and abroad has been been in question,’ her statement said.
Greens MP, Sarah Hanson Young said Ms Bishop would ‘have made a great Liberal Prime Minister’.
She said on Twitter: ‘I’ve always respected her ability to cut through the bull-dust, work across the political divide and got on with her job.
‘Proof the boys-club still have a stranglehold on politics.
Kevin Rudd, a former minister for foreign affairs, said: ‘Julie Bishop has been a highly effective Australian foreign minister. It’s a hard job. Much harder than it looks. We may not always have agreed on policy. That’s normal.
‘But she has earned, absolutely, the respect of foreign ministers around the world.’
Federal member for Chisholm, Julia Banks said: ‘In Julie Bishop our nation has been gifted with a fine leader and a standout role model for girls and women.’
JULIE BISHOP’S ‘ROCK STAR’ CAREER IN FEDERAL POLITICS
Julie Bishop (pictured with partner David Panton) entered parliament at the 1998 election as Perth’s member for Curtin
Julie Bishop entered parliament at the 1998 election as Perth’s member for Curtin.
Though WA is her political home-ground, Bishop was born to cherry farmers in Adelaide and attended the city’s St Peter’s Collegiate Girls’ School.
She studied law at Adelaide University and practised as both a solicitor and a barrister before moving to WA with her husband, property developer Neil Gillion.
They later divorced but Bishop stayed put.
Years later in parliament, Labor would query Bishop’s role during her legal days in defending building product company CSR from compensation claims by asbestos victims.
She claimed she only acted in accordance with her client’s instructions and on advice from some of WA’s most senior barristers.
It was in the Howard government in 2003 that Bishop joined the front bench as aged care minister.
John Howard rewarded her with the education portfolio and made her responsible for women’s issues in 2006 but it was short-lived with the government falling in the November 2007 Ruddslide.
She was elected deputy Liberal leader under opposition leader Brendan Nelson after the 2007 poll and was handed the shadow employment and workplace relations role.
Though WA is her political home-ground, Bishop was born to cherry farmers in Adelaide
When Nelson’s leadership imploded 11 months later she remained deputy under Malcolm Turnbull and took on the shadow treasury role.
Widely considered a failure in the portfolio, she stepped aside months later and shifted to foreign affairs – a job in which she thrived.
Incoming leader Tony Abbott kept her by his side after his one-vote partyroom win over Turnbull in December 2009 and she kept the portfolio after Labor scraped into minority government in 2010.
Tony Abbott kept Ms Bishop by his side after his one-vote partyroom win over Turnbull in December 2009
As Abbott shunted the train wreck that was federal Labor in 2013, Australia’s first female foreign minister faced some tough challenges.
But she reaped the benefits of Labor’s lobbying for a United Nations Security Council seat, making the most of it to tackle issues including Iran, Islamic State’s rise in Iraq and Syria and shaming Russia over the MH17 tragedy.
The families of the Malaysian Airline disaster victims appreciated her deep and ongoing interest and sympathetic response.
She undoubtedly played a key role in healing the damage caused to relations with Indonesia by Labor’s live cattle debacle, turning back boats and the Indonesian president phone tapping scandal.
At times, her profile put her ahead of Turnbull in the popularity stakes.
In a March 2017 poll by Roy Morgan, 30 per cent of people surveyed said she was their preferred Liberal Party leader, compared to 27 per cent for Turnbull and 5 per cent for Peter Dutton.
Asked in 2013 if she could withstand several terms of government as foreign minister, the reportedly indefatigable Bishop was unwavering.
‘Absolutely,’ she said without a moment’s hesitation.
‘You have to have inexhaustible supplies of energy to be a federal politician from Western Australia anyway.’
She has made no decision on whether she will stand at the next election.
At times, Ms Bishop’s profile put her ahead of Mr Turnbull in the popularity stakes