Julie Bishop banishes ex-BF David Panton from VIP lounge

The high-profile split of Australia’s former foreign Minister Julie Bishop and her ex-boyfriend David Panton has taken an ugly turn with reports of another savage act.

Australia’s former foreign Minister Julie Bishop has reportedly cut off ex-boyfriend David Panton’s executive access to Virgin’s VIP-only Beyond lounge after she was dumped over dinner in early July.

Mr Panton reportedly turned up to the invite-only lounge recently where he was told his Velocity profile was “disassociated” from Ms Bishop’s primary Beyond membership, the AFR’s Rear Window Column reported.

While Mr Panton was said to be disgruntled by the news, he told AFR columnist Joe Aston the refusal of entry was: "No trouble at all”.

“I was more than happy to be downgraded to the [regular] club.” he said.

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Julie Bishop has reportedly cut off ex-boyfriend David Panton’s executive access to Virgin’s Beyond Lounge. Picture: Joel Carrett

When told of the incident, Bishop told the AFR: “Wait until he finds out about the Chairman’s Lounge.” The Chairman’s Lounge is Qantas’ VIP lounge equivalent.

Mr Panton told Aston he wasn’t going to “try his luck” with the Chairman’s Lounge, instead embracing life as a Qantas life member.

Inside Ms Bishop’s public split

Ms Bishop and Mr Panton were together eight years before Mr Panton reportedly ended the relationship over dinner at Eastbank, in Sydney’s Macquarie Street on July 1 – just a week after the couple attended a gala dinner with Prince Charles.

“I’m going to be focused on living in Manly and Melbourne for the foreseeable future,” Mr Panton said in a statement to the Herald at the time.

“I wish Julie all the best in her ongoing stellar career.”

Ms Bishop was reportedly blindsided by the relationship breakdown with the NSW property developer.

In 2020, she opened up about the difficulties of their long-distance romance, with Panton based in Sydney and Bishop in Perth.

Lucy Turnbull, Malcolm Turnbull, Daisy Turnbull, David Panton, and Julie Bishop snapped together in Sydney in 2021.

“We FaceTime. It isn’t great but it is all you can do because he can’t get in here (WA) and I can’t go there without having to get an exemption,“ she told The Daily Telegraph at the time.

“It is very difficult but I know a lot of families have been separated in this way, it is challenging.”

Just over a month after the split, Ms Bishop seemed ready to put it all behind her leaning into her new ambassador role with Perth-based mining services company Mineral Resources Limited.

She appeared eager to brush off the saga when asked how she was going post-break-up by Today Show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon.

“I‘m fine but I’m wondering how you two are doing,” she said.

Julie Bishop at the David Jones SS22 Wonderworld Season Launch Sydney, Australia. Photo: James Gourley

“I don‘t want to think about it too much, it is a Monday morning. As long as you’re OK,” she continued, forcing a change of subject away from the issue.

Mr Panton has kept a low profile since the split, although New Idea, citing an anonymous source, claimed Mr Panton had started a new relationship with a woman from Sydney’s northern beaches.

Inside Virgin’s exclusive Beyond lounge

Officially opened in April this year, Virgin’s Beyond lounge plays host to the airlines biggest corporate spenders with the invite-only lounge servicing high-rollers in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

The lounges can only be accessed with a Beyond program membership card through “discreet” unmarked doors in the domestic terminals where only members have access and know the location.

The lounge, which is said to have been designed in consultation with frequent flyers, offers a range of luxurious features including a la carte dining, sophisticated spaces to relax and even bathe.

Virgin Australia’s invitation only Beyond lounge. Source: Supplied.,

“Numerous seating zones are spread throughout the lounges, providing members with different spaces to dine, relax, refresh and recharge in a delightfully Virgin Australia way,” a statement from the airline said.

“End of day facilities such as showers, towels and premium bathroom amenities by Appelles Apothecary Lab are also available for members.

“Private offices and board rooms are also available in each Beyond Lounge and can be booked by members ahead of or on the day of travel.”

Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said the Beyond Lounge was a part of the company’s “new chapter”.

“Many months have gone into market research and listening to feedback from our premium loyalty members, including me personally speaking with some of our largest corporate clients,” she said.

“We are confident we have the right model in Beyond to drive exceptional loyalty from corporate Australia while delivering strong commercial outcomes for Virgin Australia.