The designer often reposts many of the Foreign Minister's images to her 11,500 followers. Since the end of 2015, Ms McKinney has posted to Instagram more than 50 images of Ms Bishop modelling her jewels. Under the ministerial code of conduct, ministers can accept gifts but not solicit them. They must also be declared. And under Parliament's register of interests, all MPs must declare "gifts valued at more than $300", any "liabilities" or loans as well as "any other interests where a conflict of interest with a member’s public duties could foreseeably arise or be seen to arise". The register is a publicly available document which aims to prevent any conflicts of interests. When Fairfax Media asked whether the minister paid for the gems, her office said: "The minister is compliant with the register of interests." Ms McKinney also refused to say if the gems were sold, loaned or donated.

"I do not comment at any time on clients, friends or acquaintances," she said. Ms Bishop has in the past declared gifts of free jewellery from ​a range of other Australian companies, including from Paspaley, Love from Venus, and Shiels. Her register of interest shows for example that, in October 2014, she accepted silver earrings from Hoskings donated by an unknown “member of the public". Fairfax Media this week reported Ms Bishop does not declare her long-term boyfriend David Panton's financial interests because she does not consider him her spouse as they do not live together. Ms Bishop claims $32,000 in taxpayer funds for Mr Panton’s domestic travel under an allowance granted to MPs for a nominated family member. Because Mr Panton is not listed as a spouse, Ms Bishop has never declared any complimentary travel, hospitality or flight upgrades he may have received while accompanying her around Australia or on missions abroad. His business interests and property holdings are also not known. Ms Bishop has described meeting the editor of Vogue Australia Edwina McCann and learning about the Australian Fashion Council (AFC) which she heads as “something I’d been waiting for from the moment I became Foreign Minister".

Ms Bishop said formalising a partnership between the AFC and her department would help promote Australian fashion abroad - a concept she calls “fashion diplomacy”. However, Ms Bishop's fashion-friendly approach to diplomacy and promotion has also caused unease among some colleagues who say the minister uses the fashion industry to justify attending glamorous events where she can be photographed with celebrities on the world stage. She has attended events related to fashion weeks in London, LA and Jakarta. Electoral Commission of Queensland documents show Ms McKinney donated $5000 to the Liberal Party in 2010. She is also co-sponsor of the G'Day USA event, which is organised by Ms Bishop's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The designer attended a media conference with Ms Bishop and Trade Minister Steve Ciobo in Sydney late last year to launch the event, during which the minister confirmed she was wearing Ms McKinney's earrings.

"The minister is a strong advocate of all sponsors of G’Day USA and of Australian businesses exporting into international markets including Qantas, CBA, Westfield, News Corp, Northrop Grumman and Austal," her spokeswoman said when asked about the connection. Ms McKinney sells luxury gems through her Brisbane store "by appointment", and upmarket American department store Nieman Marcus. In one repost of a picture of Ms Bishop addressing the United Nations General Assembly on how to defeat Islamic State, Ms McKinney hashtaged the image with ##margotmckinneyjewellery. "Thank you for wearing the Margot McKinney Opal Collier so beautifully," Ms McKinney wrote on another photograph of Ms Bishop launching the 2016 G'Day USA. Followers appear to have linked the Foreign Minister's accessories to the Brisbane designer.

"I was watching news and just thinking she has Margot earrings on today," said one follower. "I used to see Julie Bishop on the news and think .. 'she looks beautiful and so incredibly tastefully professional .. and where on earth does she get her fabulous earrings ??!' Now, two months on Instagram and I know!" said another. She has also accepted clothes from Australian designer Kim Ellery, running shoes from a Japanese spa resort in Fukushima, jogging clothes from Calvin Klein Australia and two sets of activewear from the Melbourne sportswear company 2XU. She regularly posts pictures of herself running in 2XU leggings in countries where she has travelled in her capacity as Foreign Minister. Julie Bishop in 2XU activewear in Beijing. Credit:Sanghee Liu A 2XU spokesman said the business offered free 2XU products to people "from all walks of life".