Julie Bishop dishes the goss just hours before a new TV show on treachery enveloping Malcolm Turnbull goes to air

One of Australia’s most popular ex-politicians addresses a sellout lunch in Brisbane and reveals why she hopes being “80 will be the new 60” and what kept her ambition burning

Former foreign minister Julie Bishop speaks at the QUT Business Leaders' Forum in Brisbane, Tuesday, June 25, 2019. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING

WOWING THE CROWD

What are the odds?

Julie Bishop (illustrated) wowed a sellout lunch crowd of nearly 600 in Brisbane yesterday only hours before a new show went to air revisiting the treachery enveloping Malcolm Turnbull just before he was toppled as PM.

The ex-foreign minister, pacing the stage like a talk-show host without notes, told a QUT Business Leaders Forum at the Hilton Hotel that she declined to appear on the Bad Blood/New Blood series on Sky News.

Julie Bishop

It features allegations by Peter Dutton that Turnbull offered him Bishop’s job as deputy Liberal leader after nearly losing the first leadership challenge, a claim which Turnbull has dismissed as rubbish.

Bishop didn’t weigh in on the Dutton story but did pointedly part ways with him over recent suggestions that the Australian Signals Directorate should be turned loose to engage in domestic spying.

She denounced that as “a very unwise move’’ and noted that the AFP and ASIO already have sweeping powers in that regard.

Bishop was less willing, though, to discuss the similarities shared by Turnbull and Kevin Rudd (both highly intelligent but lousy politicians) when pressed by moderator Kerry O’Brien.

THIRD STAGE

Having left a 21-year career in Parliament behind, Bishop is now making quite a few bucks on the corporate speaking circuit, including an upcoming gig in Fiji in October. Nice work if you can get it!

Indeed, she is so popular that the QUT function sold out in just two days.

Bishop, who spent 20 years in the legal game before entering politics in 1998, said she was now looking forward to the third stage of her career set to unfold in the next two decades.

“I’m hoping 80 will be the new 60,’’ she quipped.

Bishop didn’t become the nation’s first female foreign minister until 2013 but revealed that her burning ambition for the job was originally kindled at Harvard Business School in 1996.

Before she attained her goal, though, she had to spend time in numerous other roles, including the Ministry of Ageing, which John Howard handed her in 2003.

Hillary Clinton

“I’m against ageing,’’ she joked, noting the cabinet post proved to be a great opportunity.

Five years spent globetrotting as foreign minister yielded plenty of lessons, including the pitfalls of “protocol, alcohol and cholesterol,’’ and a chance to learn from other female trailblazers such as Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton.

She recounted the challenges of addressing the Malaysian Airlines downing in 2014 and, in a stunning revelation, described Barack Obama as cool, confident and consultative, while noting that Donald Trump is unorthodox, unpredictable and relies on his gut to make decisions.

Who would have thunk it?!

PATHWAYS FOR WOMEN

In an announcement timed to coincide with Bishop’s address, QUT Business School head Robina Xavier said that the uni would launch Queensland’s first program designed to encourage more women to enter politics.

The “Pathways to Politics for Women’’ initiative will kick off next year, offering what it describes as “training, support and mentorship’’ for up to 20 successful applicants.

Professor Robina Xavier

There’s clearly a need for it. Women make up just 35 per cent of the new Parliament and Australia ranks a disappointing 48th in the world for parliamentary gender diversity. Former pollies Teresa Gambaro and Linda Lavarch are among those providing guidance for the new course.

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