Julie Bishop tipped to replace Malcolm Turnbull as Liberal leader by SportsBet

AUSTRALIANS voting in a News Corp online reader poll today have chosen Julie Bishop as their preferred Liberal Party leader. Have your say.

AUSTRALIANS voting in a News Corp online reader poll today have chosen Julie Bishop as their preferred Liberal Party leader.

With more than 2000 votes and counting, the online poll so far has revealed that voters want Ms Bishop to lead the party over Malcolm Turnbull. At 6.25pm AEDT, she has more than 47 per cent of the online vote.

Mr Turnbull has just 12 per cent of the vote while the option of ‘Other’ has 22 per cent of the vote.

Other contenders in the poll include Peter Dutton, Scott Morrison and Christian Porter, who don’t come close to Ms Bishop in the results.

Ms Bishop is now also the favourite with bookies to replace Malcolm Turnbull as the next Liberal leader after taking up the reins as Acting Prime Minister this week.

After a seemingly effortless press conference in Perth yesterday following a 4km soft-sand run, the Foreign Affairs Minister has rocketed up the charts from $7 odds to $1.60 as favourite to replace Mr Turnbull.

Ms Bishop has overtaken Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and shot ahead of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, according to SportsBet’s latest odds.

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Julie Bishop is now favourite with bookies to replace Malcolm Turnbull as the next Liberal leader after taking up the reins as Acting Prime Minister this week. Picture: Ross Swanborough.

Ms Bishop went for a 4km at Cottesloe Beach in Perth before her first press conference as Acting Prime Minister. Picture: Ian Munro The West Australian

Mr Dutton had drifted back from $1.50 to $2.40, while Mr Abbott’s chances of retaking the top job are rated at $5.

“Punter support for Julie has been strong since she took up the reins and you can see why as she’s looking very suited to the role,’’ SportsBet spokesman Will Byrne said.

Ms Bishop’s chances of being the Liberal leader at the next election also improved in the betting agency’s latest update.

Her chances are now rated at $4, down from $8 before her stint as Acting PM.

She is considered the most likely behind Mr Turnbull, who remains favourite at $1.90.

Treasurer Scott Morrison and Social Services Minister Christian Porter are considered outside chances to be the next Liberal leader at $9 and $11 respectively.

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Ms Bishop has taken over as Acting Prime Minister while Malcolm Turnbull is in Israel for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba. Picture: AAP

Ms Bishop said yesterday she was “not fazed” by being acting prime minister but brushed off suggestions she might be set to replace Mr Turnbull in the top job.

Appearing with a new hair cut as she spoke with reporters in Perth, Ms Bishop said: “I’m very happy in my job as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and Foreign Minister”.

“There are many foreign affairs challenges that I am tackling and I’ll continue to do my job as best as I’m able,” she said.

“It’s business as usual. We’re continuing to govern, just from Western Australia.”

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Immigration Minister Peter Dutton was previously the favourite to take over from Malcolm Turnbull. Picture Kym Smith

Christian Porter is considered an outside chance to be the next Liberal leader. Picture Kym Smith

Treasurer Scott Morrison is also still considered to be in the running for the Liberal leadership. Picture: AAP

Mr Turnbull is in Israel for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba.

Barnaby Joyce would ordinarily have taken over as Acting Prime Minister while he was overseas but Ms Bishop took on the role after he was last week disqualified from parliament for being a dual citizen.

Originally published as Julie Bishop tipped to replace Malcolm Turnbull as Liberal leader by SportsBet