West Coast supporter Julie Bishop’s travel plans matches team’s AFL fixtures

FOREIGN minister Julie Bishop has spent tens of thousands of dollars over five years visiting cities around Australia on the same day her beloved West Coast Eagles played there.

West Coast Eagles supporter Julie Bishop shows her true colours in her Parliament House office.

EXCLUSIVE: Julie Bishop spent tens of thousands of dollars over five years visiting cities around Australia on the same day her beloved West Coast Eagles played there.

But the Foreign Affairs Minister has refused to answer questions about whether she attended a string of interstate matches when she was a club director.

A Herald Sun investigation matched Ms Bishop’s taxpayer-funded travel with West Coast’s fixture from 2009 to 2013.

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West Coast Eagles supporter Julie Bishop shows her true colours in her Parliament House office

It found 17 occasions where Ms Bishop was in the same city where the Eagles played away from home, including 14 games in Melbourne.

Her flights for those trips cost about $29,000 and she claimed a travel allowance for official business on eight occasions totalling more than $3000.

Ms Bishop spent almost $3000 more on chauffeur-driven cars in the cities on the days West Coast played.

The Foreign Affairs Minister’s spokeswoman refused to say how many of the matches identified by the Herald Sun had been attended by Ms Bishop, despite several queries since Monday.

“All travel ... has been consistent with the guidelines for travel by parliamentarians,” she said.

Julie Bishop and Tony Abbott present a West Coast Eagles jumper to Barack Obama.

“The dates queried, which go back eight years, relate to travel for parliamentary business including where the now Foreign Minister appeared on national television, visited electorates of other MPs and gave speeches at public events.

“She did not arrange her travel for the purpose of attending an AFL match.”

Ms Bishop was the first woman on West Coast’s board when she was appointed at the end of 2008.

She served until the end of 2013, standing down because she said her travel commitments as Foreign Minister made it too difficult to continue in the role.

The diehard Eagles fan’s love of the club made global headlines in 2011 when she presented US President Barack Obama with a personalised West Coast jumper during his trip to Australia.

Ms Bishop was chosen as West Coast’s number one ticket holder earlier this year.

Then American vice president Joe Biden at a West Coast match with footballer Mason Cox and Julie Bishop in 2016. Picture: Mark Stewart

She said she was “absolutely delighted” to take over from star Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo.

“My undying support and passion for this club began about 30 years ago when it was first established,” she said at the time.

The Liberal deputy leader has been a regular fixture at AFL grand finals in recent years, and she has also billed taxpayers for trips during which she attended events including the Portsea Polo and the Spring Racing Carnival.

Ms Bishop’s spending was also put in the spotlight earlier this year after revelations she billed taxpayers more than $1600 for a trip to Adelaide where she celebrated her 60th birthday with family.

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GAMES WHEN BISHOP FLEW TO BE IN THE SAME CITY AS THE EAGLES

2009

July 4 — v Melbourne vs. West Coast — MCG in Melbourne

22 August — Adelaide vs. West Coast — AAMI Stadium in Adelaide

2010

3 July — Collingwood vs. West Coast — Etihad Stadium in Melbourne

2011

29 May — Collingwood vs. West Coast — MCG in Melbourne

30 July — Western Bulldogs vs. West Coast — Etihad Stadium in Melbourne

10 September — Collingwood vs. West Coast — MCG in Melbourne

24 September — Geelong vs. West Coast — MCG in Melbourne

Julie Bishop, pictured with The Footy Show co-host Rebecca Maddern, travelled to Melbourne on the same day her club took on the Cats. Picture: Nathan Dyer

2012

17 March — Adelaide vs. West Coast (NAB Cup) — AAMI Stadium in Adelaide

15 April — GWS vs. West Coast — Blacktown International in Sydney

29 April — Richmond vs. West Coast — Eithad Stadium in Melbourne

23 June — Collingwood vs. West Coast — MCG in Melbourne

31 August — Hawthorn vs. West Coast — MCG in Melbourne

15 September — Collingwood vs. West Coast — MCG in Melbourne

2013

13 April — Melbourne vs. West Coast — MCG in Melbourne

21 June — Hawthorn vs. West Coast — Etihad Stadium in Melbourne

11 August — Essendon vs. West Coast — Etihad Stadium in Melbourne

23 August — Collingwood vs. West Coast — MCG in Melbourne