Julie Bishop stops short of backing PM’s ministerial sex ban, as Australians support it

AUSTRALIANS have backed Malcolm Turnbull’s ministerial sex ban, but deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop says a politician’s private life shouldn’t be up to the “moral police”.

AUSTRALIANS have overwhelmingly backed Malcolm Turnbull’s ban on ministers having sex with their staff, but deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop has stopped short of endorsing it.

The deputy Liberal leader has acknowledged the changes to the ministerial code of conduct by Malcolm Turnbull brings the government into line with many workplaces.

But Ms Bishop told Sky News this morning sections of a politician’s life should be private.

It comes as a Newspoll published today shows 64 per cent of Australians support the ban, with 25 per cent opposed.

The Prime Minister announced the ban last Thursday following revelations about Barnaby Joyce’s affair with a staffer who is now carrying his child.

PM Malcolm Turnbull and Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce have clashed over Joyce’s workplace affair. Picture: Kym Smith

Ms Bishop was previously critical of suggestions there should be a ban, akin to the one adopted by the US House of Representatives.

When commenting on the US ban, Ms Bishop said the government had no business interfering in personal lives and there shouldn’t be “moral police” dictating what happens between consenting adults.

But today, after one was announced by Mr Turnbull, Ms Bishop said he was simply trying to make the code more explicit.

“There are still areas of a politician’s life that are and should be private,” Ms Bishop told Sky News from London.

“What the Prime Minister is seeking to do is ensure that there are not relationships within ministers’ offices that can lead to an improper influence over a minister’s decisions to conflicts of interest, to misuse of taxpayers funds.”

Asked directly if she supported the call now, she said: “I will abide by the ministerial code of conduct.”

On news of the poll result, Ms Bishop said if it was meeting community expectations then it was a “positive thing”.

Originally published as Julie Bishop stops short of backing PM’s ministerial sex ban, as Australians support it