What does it say about the Liberal party that it has again rebuffed the long time deputy leader, and the party’s most senior woman, Julie Bishop, as its next prime minister?
After 11 years as deputy to a revolving door of Liberal opposition leaders and prime ministers, Bishop had the greatest experience of leadership, unparalleled personal relationships with world leaders thanks to years as Australia’s foreign minister, and demonstrated poise under pressure.
But it seems the party has again chosen to go with a leader who describes themselves as a warrior, in the form of Scott Morrison.
Perhaps it was her willingness to park her ambition in the interests of serving as a competent and loyal deputy. She was also battling a perception among her detractors inside the party that she is Malcolm Turnbull “lite”.
The question now is whether she will follow Turnbull out the door and spark a byelection in her safe West Australian seat of Curtin, or retire at the next election.
While most saw her as a polished foreign minister, her stint as shadow treasurer to the then opposition leader Turnbull in 2009 was marred by stumbles and lacklustre performances.
As foreign minister, she has proved competent but less than courageous. She has been insipid about the human rights abuses in Myanmar and under her watch Australia has worked to actively undermine the UN nuclear weapons ban treaty.
The former ambassador to China, Geoff Raby, has called for her resignation over what he argues are destructive criticisms of Australia’s most important trade partner. But a tough stance on China and its attempts to peddle influence in Australian politics plays well domestically.
There was also a minor furore over Bishop wearing expensive jewellery provided by Liberal party donor Margot McKinney at meetings with world leaders, which she then tagged in her Instagram feed.
But for the most part, she has proved a stylish and diligent foreign minister who did not rock the boat.
Born in Adelaide, Bishop grew up on an apple and cherry orchard in Basket Range. She has described her parents as “Menzies era Liberals”.
An early achiever, she was head prefect at St Peter’s Collegiate Girls’ School in Adelaide and went on to study law at the University of Adelaide.
In 1982, aged 26, she became a partner in the firm of Mangan, Ey & Bishop. The following year, she moved to Perth and joined Robinson Cox as a solicitor, specialising in commercial litigation.
Bishop has been a powerful fundraiser in the WA Liberal party.
She has a long-term partner, David Panton, who is a property developer, and no children.
