Julie Bishop calls for formal investigation after Cabinet leaks

THREE ministers have acknowledged that leaks have been coming from the Turnbull Cabinet, as Julie Bishop calls for a ‘formal investigation’.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has said she would support an investigation into the leak. Picture: Gary Ramage

THREE ministers have conceded that leaks have been coming from the Turnbull cabinet, after Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop has called for a “formal investigation” into cabinet leaks.

Ms Bishop told Sky News she is not the one leaking sensitive information to damage the Prime Minister and Treasurer.

She said she “absolutely rejects the suggestion”.

Ms Bishop has publicly denied she is the source Andrew Bolt suggested she would be the beneficiary of the leak.

“It is not me,” she said in a statement.

“I would support a formal investigation into the leak.”

. @JulieBishopMP says ‘it’s not me’ in response to cabinet leaks saying she supports a formal investigation https://t.co/JdMUn3RGlc pic.twitter.com/aJOUpIzCqE

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) November 23, 2017

The latest cabinet leak revealed that Treasurer Scott Morrison argued against a banking royal commission but that Immigration Minister Peter Dutton was open to the idea.

Mr Morrison said it was “incredibly important these issues are resolved”. “I’m sure the Prime Minister has this well in hand,” Mr Morrison said.

When asked about the leaks Mr Dutton said: “If you’ve got leaks out of cabinet then it’s a poor reflection on the character of the person,” he said.

In an interview with 2GB radio, Mr Dutton said, “There’s no good that comes of it, and as I’ve said, for a long time, I’ve served under four Liberal leaders now ... I continue to do that to this day.”

He said he would continue to support and be honest with Malcolm Turnbull.

.@PeterDutton_MP tells Ray Hadley, "I would have a gut feeling" when asked if he knows who's leaking from cabinet #auspol

— 2GB 873 (@2GB873) November 22, 2017

“We don’t live in a dictatorship,” Mr Dutton said.

“Prime Ministers want frank advice, I give frank advice, and we work to get the best possible outcome, and if people believe that somehow their careers are furthered by leaking or by trying to put out something that’s going to damage the government or damage me or damage Malcolm, it says more about them than it does about us.”

Mr Dutton said he had an inkling about who the leaker might be, but refused to name names.

Originally published as Julie Bishop calls for formal investigation after Cabinet leaks