Bishop steps down, but not yet out of game

Julie Bishop will step down from her portfolio and may quit politics at the next election.

Julie Bishop in Canberra in 1999. Picture: David Crosling.

Outgoing foreign minister Julie Bishop, best known internationally for her ­efforts to gain justice for MH17 ­victims, will step down from her portfolio and may quit politics at the next election.

Ms Bishop said she had been preselected for the seat of Curtin and had made no decision regarding the next election, in a statement yesterday after Scott Morrison was unsuccessful in convincing her to stay on.

Former defence minister Marise Payne will take on her cabinet spot and role, and the Prime Minister said Ms Bishop advised him to appoint the senator to the job.

Her decision came as leaked messages showed key Liberal Party members urged each other to vote with their heads and not their hearts, leading to the leadership hopeful being knocked out in the first round of the ballot.

Julie Bishop arrives at Perth Airport. Picture: Richard Hatherly

The former deputy put her hand up for the Liberal leadership on Friday but received only 11 votes in the first round, leading to a showdown between Peter Dutton and eventual new Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Labor attempted to frame Ms Bishop’s low vote in the spill into support for its argument that the Liberal Party does not support women in leadership.

“Their strongest performer, most popular minister and best fundraiser, completely disrespected by a bunch of blokes with half her intellect,” Labor MP Clare O’Neil said.

Former Labor trade minister Craig Emerson has said Ms Bishop was treated “appallingly” by her own colleagues.

The ABC yesterday reported the “Friends of Stability” Whats-App group included 19 Liberals ­including frontbenchers Christopher Pyne, Paul Fletcher, Craig Laundy and Simon Birmingham.

A WhatsApp message from Liberal member Paul Fletcher.

Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher wrote to the group. “Despite our hearts tugging us to Julie we need to vote with our heads for Scott in round one.”

Mr Pyne told the group he had told Ms Bishop about the tactics “very respectfully”.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull praised her as ­“Australia’s finest” foreign minister while Labor foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said Ms Bishop had “dedicated her life” to serving the nation and had a “tireless work ethic”.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd said Ms Bishop was a “highly effective” minister. “She has earned, absolutely, the respect of foreign ministers around the world,” he said.

The foreign policy community also praised her on Sunday.

Ms Bishop, 62, also stood down as deputy leader of the Liberal party.

Josh Frydenberg was voted in by his colleagues and was given the Treasury portfolio on Friday.

Ms Bishop became foreign minister in 2013 and was deputy leader of the Liberal Party up until last week’s spill.

When steering Australia’s delegation to the UN Security Council, Ms Bishop achieved a successful resolution calling on the armed separatist groups controlling the MH17 crash site to allow international investigators access to the site.

She has also been a leading voice in the battle to bring those responsible before an international court.

Ms Bishop was a partner at Perth firm Clayton Utz before ­entering parliament.