Julie Bishop billed taxpayers for trip to Adelaide where she celebrated her birthday

FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop billed taxpayers more than $1600 in flights and accommodation for a trip to Adelaide where she celebrated her 60th birthday with family.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull celebrate her birthday with some cake.

FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop billed taxpayers more than $1600 in flights and accommodation for a trip to Adelaide where she celebrated her 60th birthday with family.

Ms Bishop celebrated on the eve of her July 17 birthday in 2016 with a home-cooked meal of seafood and South Australian wines at big sister MaryLou’s home in the posh Adelaide suburb of Medindie.

The Foreign Minister’s other siblings Patricia and Douglas as well her brother-in-law Joe also attended the low-key dinner.

Government documents ­reveal Ms Bishop billed taxpayers $1341 for a one way flight from Perth to Adelaide to attend the dinner on July 16.

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She also claimed $128 travelling allowance for the night and spent $159 on chauffeur-driven trips while in Adelaide.

But a spokeswoman for Ms Bishop said the Foreign Minister had “parliamentary meetings and portfolio-related meetings” while in Adelaide and spent most of her birthday hosting the US Vice President in Melbourne.

Two years earlier taxpayers spent $2400 for a one-night trip to Adelaide, where Ms Bishop’s sister hosted cocktails for her 58th birthday.

But a spokeswoman for Ms Bishop said all travel by the Foreign Minister is “within ­official guidelines” and the Minister found the accusations “particularly offensive” because her job had prevented her from attending numerous family events, including her sister’s wedding, family birthday celebrations, the christenings of her godchildren and family funerals.