In Western Australia, using a phone while driving attracts a $400 fine and three demerit points. Julie Bishop photographed using her mobile phone while driving on the Great Eastern Highway in Perth two days before the federal election. Ms Bishop's lapse comes six months after Labor leader Bill Shorten was fined $443 by Victorian Police for texting as he drove his four-wheel-drive along Kings Way in Melbourne. In that case, Mr Shorten contacted police once images of him using his phone hit the media, later saying: "There's no excuse for it. I shouldn't have done it and won't do it again." Ms Bishop's indiscretion will be an unwanted distraction for the Coalition on the crucial final day of an increasingly close election, with polls suggesting the result could now go either way.

She has been an energetic campaigner for the return of the Turnbull government and a key asset in marginal seats for the Coalition. The witness observed Ms Bishop using her phone for about two minutes during slow-moving traffic in which both cars were stuck at two sets of red lights. Fairfax Media contacted Ms Bishop's office late on Thursday. In a statement issued early on Friday, Ms Bishop conceded she had done the wrong thing. "Everyone should comply with the law and I will ensure this does not happen again," she said. Julie Bishop photographed using her mobile phone while driving on the Great Eastern Highway in Perth two days before the federal election.

The witness said he was driving along the Great Eastern Highway in Perth just past the Burswood Casino at 4.50pm on Thursday when he noticed Ms Bishop's emblazoned campaign car. "I thought it was funny to see a Toyota Yaris with Julie Bishop's face on the side. Then it was even funnier when I realised it was actually Julie Bishop driving the Julie Bishop car," he said. Everyone should comply with the law and I will ensure this does not happen again. Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop "Then it wasn't so funny when I realised she was using her phone as she drove. It was clear that she was holding the phone and using her thumb to swipe. I don't know if she was texting or checking Facebook or something." The witness observed Ms Bishop using her phone for about two minutes during slow-moving traffic in which both cars were stuck at two sets of red lights.

He conceded he was also driving his car when he took the picture but said he felt obliged to document the moment when he realised such a senior minister was flouting the law. WA law states: "Whilst driving, you can only touch a mobile phone to receive and terminate a phone call if the phone is secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle. If the phone is not secured in a mounting, it can only be used to receive or terminate a phone call without touching it (e.g. using voice activation, a Bluetooth hands-free car kit, ear piece or headset)." Follow us on Twitter