Julie Bishop and Luke Hepworth continue to deny romance at the 2022 NGV Gala

Despite denying romance rumours, “adventure philanthropist” Luke Hepworth has attended yet another high-profile soiree on the arm of Julie Bishop.

Julie Bishop and Luke Hepworth attend the NGV Gala but claim there is nothing to see romantically. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Despite denying romance rumours, “adventure philanthropist” Luke Hepworth has attended yet another high-profile soiree on the arm of Julie Bishop.

The former foreign minister attended the 2022 National Gallery of Victoria Gala in Melbourne on Saturday with the Sydney-based entrepreneur.

Bishop, 66, wore a long black dress with puff sleeves which she paired with rhinestone accessories, while Hepworth, 48, dressed in an all-black suit.

More than 1400 guests partied into Saturday night at the event, which also marked the opening of the Alexander McQueen Mind Mythos Muse exhibition.

It was the latest in a string of events the duo have attended together, coming less than a fortnight after they posed for photos together at a party hosted by champagne house Moet & Chandon at Sydney Harbour on December 1.

Not dating... Julie Bishop and Luke Hepworth at the NGV Gala.

Hepworth has been sharing their red carpet snaps together on his Instagram account, fuelling rumours that they’ve been dating since attending the Perth Telethon on October 22.

The pair’s appearance at Melbourne’s answer to the Met Gala, comes after Hepworth insisted the connection is platonic.

Julie Bishop and Luke Hepworth have denied romance rumours despite attending numerous functions together. Picture: Sam Tabone/Getty Images

“We are working on a charity project for the Children’s Cancer Institute. We are definitely not dating, mate,” he told Confidential in November.

“I am not in a relationship. She is just a good friend of mine and a wonderful human, so we have been to a couple of charity events.”

He stepped back and waited while Bishop conducted interviews on Saturday, but was never far from her side in the crowd among the likes of Phoebe Tonkin, Georgia Fowler, Elsa Pataky, singers G Flip, Troye Sivan, rapper Baker Boy, and footy favourites Adam Goodes and Eddie McGuire.

Ms Bishop separated from her former partner, Sydney property developer David Panton, in July after eight years together.

Bishop and Hepworth have been snapped together multiple times.

The former Curtin MP retired from federal politics in 2019.

Ms Bishop has since pursued roles in the private sector and has served as the Vice Chancellor of The Australian National University in Canberra.

Ms Bishop will commence a second four-year term as chancellor in 2023.