Labor is accusing Julie Bishop of not taking her job as chief diplomat seriously enough, after her boyfriend was photographed sitting next to her in the official Australian section at the UN General Assembly in New York.

But the Foreign Minister defended her decision, saying it was within her discretion to allow her partner, David Panton, to attend the UN session alongside her. Ms Bishop also said, through a spokeswoman, that she regularly invites "friends" and constituents onto the floor of the United Nations.

Ms Bishop is in New York attending high-level talks at UN leaders week. World leaders including US President Barack Obama and Russia's Vladimir Putin are also attending the 70th session of the UN General Assembly.

But a picture showing her partner, Mr Panton seated next to her at the Australian section of the assembly in New York has raised eyebrows back home in Canberra.