Julie Bishop has attacked the use of dirty tricks that saw her bumped from the race for prime minister last week, saying the Australian people are “looking for answers” in the wake of the Liberal turmoil.

As new Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday revealed a Cabinet that reduced the number of senior West Australians at the heart of the Government, Ms Bishop appeared to question why other WA MPs had not backed her for the top job.

Ms Bishop said she had resigned as foreign minister and would go to the backbench. She had not decided whether she would quit politics and would take time to consider her future.

Speaking to The West Australian, Ms Bishop said the week had been “personally devastating” for a number of people.

Comment: Julie Bishop’s loss will hit coalition at the ballot box

WhatsApp thread between Federal MPs suggest Julie Bishop was boycotted in dirty tricks campaign

The Morrison Government’s winners and losers in new Cabinet

She said she was aware of claims an online messaging app had been used by MPs to scare her supporters into backing Scott Morrison in the ballot.

ABC’s Insiders program yesterday showed screen shots of a WhatsApp group used by MPs called “friends for stability”.

In one message, MPs were told WA senator Mathias Cormann was putting votes behind Ms Bishop to knock Mr Morrison out of the race — ultimately setting up a contest between Ms Bishop and Peter Dutton, which Mr Dutton would be sure to win.

“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 said.

Senator Cormann said claims around the WhatsApp story were “100 per cent incorrect”.

Ms Bishop had just 11 votes in the first ballot. None of those who voted for her was from WA. With Ms Bishop knocked out, the contest was between Mr Dutton and Mr Morrison, with Mr Morrison winning by five votes.

MPs regularly use WhatsApp to communicate securely outside official command chains.

One WA MP told The West Australian they felt they had been tricked. They said they felt forced to vote against Ms Bishop to keep Mr Dutton out of the top job.

“We were forced to vote for Scott in round one,” an MP said. “There was a lot of people on that list who would have voted for Julie.”

Ms Bishop had told a meeting of some WA MPs, before she put up her hand for the leadership, that internal polling showed the party facing a heavy loss if Mr Dutton became PM. She also warned the GST reform package would be at risk under the Queensland-based Mr Dutton.

Mr Morrison’s first Cabinet, announced yesterday, reduced the number of West Australians from five to four.

Camera Icon Member for Durack Melissa Price has joined the Cabinet. Credit: Matt Jelonek

Member for Durack Melissa Price has been promoted to Environment Minister, but Dutton supporter Michael Keenan — while keeping the Human Services portfolio — is no longer in Cabinet. Mathias Cormann, Christian Porter and Michaelia Cash retain their places, though Senator Cash moves to the small business portfolio.

Mr Morrison praised Ms Bishop, saying many female colleagues looked to her as a mentor. “She will be a passionate campaigner in every sense of the word, as she always been for the Liberal Party into the future,” he said.

While Mr Morrison was hoping the minimalist reshuffle would help heal wounds in the party, other MPs warned privately there was more infighting to come.

Some MPs said the party would now undergo a significant change of direction on policy, particularly in immigration and energy issues. Conservative MPs have been beating the drum for cuts to immigration and say energy policies must put tackling the cost of power over efforts to combat climate change.

One senior Liberal said the past week reminded them of the bar scene from Star Wars.