Julie Bishop didn’t hear Malcolm Turnbull call then PM Tony Abbott a ‘c***’

FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop has been grilled about claims Malcolm Turnbull called then-PM Tony Abbott “f***ing hopeless” and a “c***” on a VIP flight.

FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop has told a breakfast television program she didn’t hear Malcolm Turnbull call the then Prime Minister Tony Abbott “f***ing hopeless” and a “disloyal c***” on a VIP flight.

Ms Bishop conceded the relationship between Abbott and cabinet colleagues was “tense” at the time the exchange between the leadership rivals in July 2014. Mr Abbott, Turnbull, Ms Bishop and other senior ministers were flying back to Canberra from Sydney on an Air Force VIP flight after attending a dinner marking the 50th birthday for The Australian newspaper.

According to a report in Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph, Mr Turnbull, who was then Communications Minister, told his leader he was “hopeless” and a “disloyal c***”.

He went on to say Mr Abbott should resign and was close to his face as he confronted him in a corridor on the plane.

Three separate sources confirmed the account to the Telegraph, but Ms Bishop told the Nine Network’s Today show she never heard it happen.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is said to have abused then PM Tony Abbott on a VIP flight.

Tony Abbott has refused to comment about the argument claims.

“No such conversation took place in my presence. I can only assume it didn’t happen and had the journalist contacted me about this story I would have told her that I didn’t hear such a conversation and that as far as I’m concerned it didn’t happen.”

Ms Bishop went on to say the witness wasn’t named so she didn’t know “who gave the story to the journalist”.

She said the relationship between the two men was “tense over policy issues” but was professional. Asked what it was like now she replied: “Tense [but] professional.”

When asked if issues remained between the two, she said it was inevitable there were clashes from time to time.

“This is what happens. You don’t have to like every single person you work with. But you respect their right to be in Parliament and you get on with the job of representing the Australian people. That’s what we all try to do.”

She said Mr Abbott was a former Prime Minister who had a right to express his view.

“I’m sure Tony Abbott doesn’t want to see Bill Shorten in the Lodge. Bill Shorten would be a danger to the Australian economy. So, I’m sure Tony Abbott joins with all Liberals in wanting to see a Liberal-National government succeed.”

Mr Abbott refused to comment when approached by News Corp.