Julie Bishop to quit politics at the next election
Former foreign minister Julie Bishop will leave politics at the coming election after months of speculation over her future in the wake of last year’s leadership turmoil.
Ms Bishop told Parliament she would not contest the election as she declared full confidence in the Morrison government’s ability to hold on to power.
The decision clears the way for a contest to fill her Western Australian seat, with Ms Bishop signalling she would like a woman to take her place.
The announcement drew a standing ovation from Coalition and Labor MPs in the House of Representatives on Thursday afternoon and was followed by speeches from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to congratulate her on her career.
Declaring her loyalty to the Liberal Party, Ms Bishop said she made her decision after becoming sure the government would win the election.
“During the last two weeks it has become evident that Labor has learned nothing from its past failings and is doomed to repeat these failings if elected,” she said.
“It is thus my view that the Liberal-National Coalition will win the next election and that the government will be returned to office because it is focused on the matters that matter to the Australian people.”
Ms Bishop had fended off questions about her future in recent weeks, saying it was her “intention” to run, a remark that did not quell talk of her imminent departure.
She said on Thursday she had been contacted by many talented people “including women” who indicated they would contest the seat if she did not.
“Accordingly, I will not recontest the seat of Curtin at the next election and I will work hard in the meantime to assist a new Liberal candidate to win the seat,” she said.
“It is time for a new member to take my place.”
Liberals have speculated that one of the reasons for her relatively late decision, only three months out from the election, was to make it more difficult for Attorney-General Christian Porter to seek preselection for her seat.
Ms Bishop told Parliament that she had won her seat of Curtin in 1998 with a primary vote of 44.6 per cent and had increased this to 65.6 per cent at the last election. The Liberal vote in two-party terms was 71 per cent.
Mr Porter suffered a 5.7 per cent swing against him in his nearby seat of Pearce at the last election, winning with a Liberal vote in two-party terms of just 53.6 per cent.
Ms Bishop said she had “closely observed” Mr Morrison and his colleagues in the Parliament, in the party room and in press conferences and was confident they would win the election.
“Australians will remember that in 2007 the Labor Party promised to deliver responsible budgets yet in government they trashed the nation’s finances through wasteful and reckless spending,” she said.
“Labor also promised to maintain strong border protection, yet in government they presided over one of the greatest policy failures in a generation when they weakened those border protection laws.”
Ms Bishop said it had been an “immense honour” to be Australia’s first female foreign minister and to be succeeded by her colleague Marise Payne as the second woman in the post.
“We should be so proud of our reputation and the high regard in which we are held as a nation – an open, liberal democracy committed to freedoms and the rule of law and democratic institutions,” she said.
“I thank and acknowledge the prime ministers in whose cabinets I served – John Howard, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull.
“I thank the Liberal Party of Australia, my division of Curtin, the state division, my colleagues past and present in this place, and the Liberal Party members across Australia and living overseas everywhere, for the remarkable opportunity they have afforded me to be a member of the House of Representatives since 1998.”
Ms Bishop was more popular than her colleagues as preferred prime minister in polling conducted last year for the Liberal Party, putting her ahead of Mr Turnbull, Mr Morrison and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.
In a controversial factional play to win the Liberal party room leadership spill last August, only 11 members voted for Ms Bishop in the first around in order to help Mr Morrison defeat Mr Dutton.
"Her successor will have big shoes to fill and we know that Julie has big shoes! They will take some filling," Mr Morrison said.
Mr Shorten joked that Ms Bishop had begun her remarks with a "fierce attack on the Labor Party" and praised her "calm and composure and kindness" when confronting Russia over the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17.
"I hope that whatever she chooses to do in the future, and I'm sure she won't be short of offers, that she contemplates some form of public service," Mr Shorten said.
"I think this country needs to be better at using our former prime ministers and senior representatives, so I recognise her experience and breadth."