Former foreign minister was first out of Liberal leadership contest, despite polls suggesting she was clear choice of voters

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Julie Bishop fronted reporters in Canberra on Tuesday, ostensibly to say farewell – to supporters, to colleagues, and to the foreign ministers around the world she now counts as friends.

But what Bishop was actually saying was stow your goodbye cards, hit pause on the political obituaries. She wanted to send a message: right now, with everything in flux, I have my options firmly open.

With the new regime forming around her, and colleagues on the way to a swearing-in ceremony at government house, Bishop strode into the Senate courtyard, and sent a clear signal to anyone who might be interested, that reports of her death may have been greatly exaggerated.



The former foreign minister quit her front bench role over the weekend after losing the leadership ballot in last week’s three-way leadership scramble.

While Scott Morrison prevailed in the ugliness of the ballot, in part because moderates thought he stood a stronger chance of holding out Peter Dutton’s attempted coup, the latest Guardian Essential poll suggests Bishop was the clear choice of voters to lead the Liberal party. Asked to rank their preferred Liberal party leaders, 23% of the sample (up 7% since July), nominated Bishop.

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The former foreign minister was asked on when the Liberal party might be able to bring itself to elect a popular female leader?

Tongue firmly in cheek, wattage dialled up, Bishop replied: “Well, when we find one, I’m sure we will”.

Asked about whether the Liberal party would struggle to raise cash now she wasn’t available to headline local events for colleagues, Bishop noted: “Well, obviously, as a backbencher, I am somewhat constrained. As a deputy, I had much more ability to travel the country at the request of my colleagues”.

Another journalist wanted to know whether she believed the broad church of the Liberal party was now in the process of fracturing, and whether she had any advice for the party in the future?

Bishop didn’t want to rehash the unhinging of the past fortnight. “I want to move on from the events of last week. I don’t think at that it is going to assist the new government if I pontificate on those issues”.

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But she was absolutely available for consultations. “I’m sure that the party members understand very well what has gone on in the past week, or indeed, probably ever since we lost government in 2007”.

“I’m sure that they will reflect, and if they want my advice, they know where my office will be”.

Given the anticipated victory lap had transformed very obviously into a brief limbering up session before a warm up run, Bishop was then asked to be more specific about her plans.

Did she see herself returning to a senior position in the Liberal party post election? On the front bench? Or even, ultimately, leadership?

“It’s far too early for me to even contemplate what I might do,” Bishop said.

But there was time. “I will certainly have plenty of time to consider my options and reflect on what has been an extraordinary time”.

Malcolm Turnbull will leave the parliament at the end of this week – the adventure of leading the Liberal party now absolutely at an end. The former prime minister has inflicted a byelection on colleagues in his rush for the exit.

Morrison, who watched his ministerial team get sworn in on Tuesday, is attempting to move on from the disaster of the civil war, putting one foot in front of the other.

With the immediate poll reaction to the leadership change bad, and the road ahead entirely uncertain and unpredictable, Bishop is marking time, as is Tony Abbott, who also made it known on Monday he wasn’t going anywhere.

Abbott noted he had “plenty of public life left in me”.