Bill Shorten open to US ambassador role for Julie Bishop

Bill Shorten has not ruled out making Julie Bishop ambassador to the US as he continues his attacks on the incumbent, Joe Hockey.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten, right, won’t rule out Julie Bishop as Australia’s ambassador to the US.

Bill Shorten has not ruled out making former foreign minister Julie Bishop Australia’s ambassador to the US as he continues his attacks on the nation’s current representative to Washington, Joe Hockey.

Labor have called for Mr Hockey to be recalled over a meeting he arranged between embassy staff and a travel company he has a $1 million stake in, leading to speculation of who could fill the post if Mr Hockey is sacked by a Shorten government.

The Opposition Leader said he was keen to see the Liberal stalwart continue in public service when asked if he would replace Mr Hockey with Ms Bishop.

“In terms of her future, that’s up to her. I do have a view that former senior political representatives, former prime ministers of both and of course people of her calibre, still have service to give the public,” he said in Canberra today.

“Why don’t we let her catch breath? … She’s a loss to the Liberal Party. I don’t think she was well-treated by the Liberal Party.”

Ms Bishop, who announced the end to her more than 20 years in federal parliament, yesterday is under speculation for a wide range of private and public posts.

She had earlier resigned from cabinet following the ousting of Malcolm Turnbull from the prime ministership in August, and only garnering 11 votes in the ballot to replace him as Liberal leader.

Meanwhile, Mr Shorten continued to target Mr Hockey and his dealings with Helloworld, following a letter from former Helloworld employee Russell Carstensen in which he claimed Liberal Party treasurer and Helloworld chief executive Andrew Burnes said “Hockey owes me” when organising a meeting with embassy staff.

Mr Burnes, a good friend of Mr Hockey’s, told The Australian he never said “Hockey owes me” and he did not organise any meetings between Mr Carstensen and the ambassador.

“Personally I think Joe Hockey is a nice person and he’s done some good work in the US. But what was he thinking?” Mr Shorten said.

“I don’t think we’ve heard adequate explanation yet. The revelations in Senate estimates of a senior donor to the Liberal Party boasting to staff about his relationship with Mr Hockey … that’s not a good look is it?”

When told of Mr Burnes’ denial he ever made those comments, Mr Shorten defended Mr Carstensen.

“We have a senior ex-employee of Helloworld making some pretty strong statements, and I’m sure that gentleman hasn’t done it lightly,” he said.

“The government’s got a lot of explaining to do here.”

The Australian has approached Mr Hockey, via Australia’s embassy in the US and DFAT, for comment.