Julie Bishop’s stocks rise as next Governor-General

Julie Bishop’s move to the backbench has fuelled speculation she may soon use her diplomatic skills as the next governor-general.

Former foreign minister Julie Bishop with the Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove after her swearing-in in 2016.

Julie Bishop’s move to the backbench has furthered speculation that she may soon use her considerable skills as a diplomat as an ambassador or the next governor-general.

Questions about whether Ms Bishop, 62, could succeed Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove when his commission expires next March only grew yesterday when she confirmed she was stepping down as foreign minister following her unsuccessful leadership tilt.

Ms Bishop has been preselected by the Liberal Party for her very safe seat of Curtin in Perth’s western suburbs. But in a written statement yesterday, she said she had made no decision about the next election.

Her possible vice-regal appointment was mooted by Nikki Savva, writing in The Weekend Australian. “Bishop’s stellar career also has ended, but it is unlikely this is the last we will hear or see of her,’’ Savva wrote. “There are already whispers that with Sir Peter Cosgrove notching up five years as Governor-General in March, she would make a fine replacement.’’

Former governor-general Bill Hayden.

The last time a former foreign minister became the governor-general was in 1989 when Bill Hayden left the Hawke Labor government and parliament to take up the position. His five-year term was considered so successful, it was extended for two years.

Ms Bishop would be following another West Australian, former Curtin MP and external affairs minister Sir Paul Hasluck, who John Gorton appointed governor-general in 1969.

Yesterday one of Ms Bishop’s longtime supporters, former West Australian Liberal state president Danielle Blain, said it was too soon to ponder Ms Bishop’s next move and lashed other WA MPs for not voting for Ms Bishop last week.

Ms Bishop fielded 11 votes, but none from West Australian members. “I’m still recovering from the extraordinary treachery shown by the WA members,” Ms Blain said.

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.

Mr Turnbull praised Ms Bishop 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 defence minister Marise Payne will take on Ms Bishop’s cabinet spot and role, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Ms Bishop advised him to appoint the senator to the job.

Today’s Newspoll showed Ms Bishop is the most popular leader the Liberal Party doesn’t have, shading Mr Morrison and ex-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

She topped the list of Liberal leadership contenders, with 29 per cent of voters preferring her over a field that also included Tony ­Abbott and Peter Dutton.

 

Mr Morrison was nominated by 25 per cent of voters as the best leader, four points behind Ms Bishop. But Coalition supporters overwhelmingly backed the new Prime Minister — 38 per cent to 26 per cent for Ms Bishop — when the results were broken down on the party allegiance of those surveyed. Mr Turnbull ran a distant third on 14 per cent, while Mr ­Abbott polled 11 per cent. A Dutton leadership was embraced by only 6 per cent of voters, illustrating the challenge he would have faced had he prevailed in the partyroom.